{"id":174859,"date":"2026-04-15T06:01:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T11:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=174859"},"modified":"2026-04-15T06:04:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T11:04:45","slug":"resting-american-bittern-at-sequoyah-national-wildlife-refuge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2026\/04\/15\/resting-american-bittern-at-sequoyah-national-wildlife-refuge\/","title":{"rendered":"Resting American Bittern at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RestingResting American Bittern at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge \u2013 Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1\/200, ISO 2500, -0.3 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Nine days after finding a surprise American Bittern at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge<\/span><\/a>, I found a bittern again in the same area of the refuge. Maybe it was a different bittern, or perhaps it was the same one I had found nine days earlier; I can’t be sure.<\/p>\n

If it was the same American Bittern, I would have expected it to move on to its breeding grounds north of here within that nine day period of time.<\/p>\n

Then I wondered, if this American Bittern hatched last year, it might not be ready to breed and maybe, just maybe, it will stick around the refuge for a while instead of heading to its breeding grounds. Some younger birds do that, provided there is enough food in the area to sustain them.<\/p>\n

I know I’ve photographed Long-billed Curlews on the Gulf Coast of Florida when they should have been on their breeding grounds.<\/p>\n

I photographed this resting American Bittern while using my Jeep as a mobile blind. Later in the morning, I took more photos of the bittern while walking along the edge of the road.<\/p>\n

The weather has kept me out of the field for almost a week; I am anxious to get back to the refuge to see if this bittern has stuck around. It would be wonderful to have more opportunities with this bird. I love photographing these wading birds.<\/p>\n

I also want to see what other migrant birds have arrived. Spring is definitely an exciting time for bird photography. It is hard to wait for better weather; I can barely contain myself!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my American Bittern photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nine days after finding a surprise American Bittern at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I found a bittern again in the same area of the refuge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":174856,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5320,27,13973,13974],"tags":[4004,5321,6328,632,5322,13984,4142,4046,4156,13976,165,313],"class_list":["post-174859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-bitterns","category-avian","category-oklahoma","category-sequoyah-national-wildlife-refuge","tag-adult","tag-american-bittern","tag-bittern","tag-bitterns","tag-botaurus-lentiginosus","tag-bottomlands","tag-close-up","tag-portrait","tag-resting","tag-slough","tag-spring","tag-wading-birds"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t