[obol] Bitterns and more

[Michael Gellerman]

Having read for years and years about the solitary hunting and nesting
habits of American Bitterns, we were pleasantly surprised to see a "pair" of
bitterns within about 10 ft of each other, one in each of their classic
poses at River S in Ridgefield NWR on Sunday. Maybe they were cryptic to
each other and not realy a "pair" at all. Other birds at Ridgefield were a
typical (beautiful) day, although we had a close up view of a juvenile N.
Harrier tearing apart something dead and feathered and gray.

Tree Swallows yesterday afternoon at Bethany Pond, Washington Co., three
weeks earlier than our earliest recorded date over the past 14 years. I am
not sure we have ever seen Common Mergansers and Tree Swallows on the pond
at the same time, but one pair of Mergansers persists. There were loads of
Tree Swallows at Ridgefield, but flying very high, ours were right down on
the water and at tree height and appeared quite suddenly. They may not stay.

Mike Gellerman
Washington Co.
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