An unexpected find for this late in the year, the Least Bittern continues to delight southeast Michigan birders as it hunts for food along the Lake Erie shoreline.
I’ve seen Least Bitterns before, a small black and brown heron with long yellow legs and toes and what looks like white racing stripes on its body.
The bird is usually hunched over, deep in marsh cattail reeds where it can barely be seen as it stands motionless with its dagger-like bill.
Watching the water before it quickly snatches a small fish under the water.
Except the Least Bittern along the Lake Erie shoreline isn’t looking for food among reeds.
It’s stepping slowly and carefully along the rocky shoreline, working its way up and down the shore, as it catches small fish.
And it’s stayed along the shoreline in the same vicinity for almost a week.
The Least Bittern is commonly found in Michigan during breeding season, but most would have migrated south to their nonbreeding grounds in Central America by now.
Given much colder weather is expected mid-week in southeast Michigan, I suspect the bird will soon move south for warmer climates.
