American Bittern. Anhinga Trail, Everglades NP

It was rainy, dark, and cold (for Florida) when I made my first visit to the famous Anhinga Trail boardwalk at Everglades National Park, and I only had 90 minutes before I had to leave for an appointment. I had spent the early morning on an even colder and wetter airboat ride an hour north of the Royal Palm Visitor Center, but I was not about to let my first day in the Everglades go by without hitting the most famous spot. Well worth it! Besides the expected Alligators, Anhingas, Herons, Storks, and Vultures, this American Bittern made a short appearance at the edge of the water before I even got to the boardwalk. And it was my only Bittern for the whole trip, though I returned to the Anhinga boardwalk twice after.

I am, as I have written on my Point and Shoot Nature Photographer blog (see Fear not the darkness…), totally amazed at the quality the most recent Point and Shoot super-zooms manage at higher ISOs. These shots area at ISO 2500. Not bad!

Sony HX400V at 990mm equivalent field of view. Shutter preferred. 1/1600th @ f6.3.