Fellow Tweeterers, I at long last am no longer a virgin in bittern sightings!
The blessed event occurred at Spencer Island Saturday morning. While
standing on the dike looking at flocks of birds being harrassed by a
harrier, I noticed a great blue heron among them. Then, underneath, a some-
what similar, but browner with black wingtips and a straighter neck appeared.
Looking in my 600 telephoto confirmed what I was praying for--my
bittern! Just minutes later my sighting was confirmed by an experienced
birder who had the bittern in his scope. Twice more that morning I was
able to observe the bittern in flight.

Since I've been looking in vain for so long for a bittern sighting, I was
beginning to think it was never going to happen. My question is
this--since I've finally broken the ice, am I going to see bitterns on a
regular basis now? Seems to have worked that way on other first time
sightings for me. Now if I could just get close enough for a good photo...
wjansen