Quote Originally Posted by Kayaker72 View Post
I was kayaking on Saturday. Great day on the water, but not much in the photo opportunities. Just a few ducks in the distance. Until we saw this odd bird about 50 yards ahead of us walking about 5-10 yards from the side of the marsh. We got closer, but it spooked to behind some bushes. We decided to pull over and wait to see if it would come back out. And then I saw this reed/branch poke up that wasn't a reed or branch....and it was watching us....


small-4560 by kayaker72, on Flickr

I've been trying to identify the bird, and I believe it is an American Bittern. Here is a full body example I took last winter at Parker River NWR:


small-0798 by kayaker72, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing....Brant
I vote for Bittern as well

Love those eyes on the first shot , I would like to see a closer crop on that one just for fun!