Least Bittern

Description:

Small Heron species. About 1/3 the size of an American Bittern and smaller than a Green Heron. This adult bird has a dark crown, back and shoulders. Bill and legs are orange and the body is a light creamy orange/brown with a long stripes down it's white neck. Like most herons is they can fold up their necks or stretch them long.

Habitat:

This was spotted in a sanitary district in a pond of reclaimed water. It hid mostly in the reeds and you would only know they were there by the cooing sound almost like a dove.

Notes:

Sorry for the blurry image. It was pretty far. Twice we saw them reach out to the edge of the reeds and straddled them, searched for I assume predators and then fly out and into another patch of reeds. Judging by the sightings and the calling I would say there were at least 3 in the pond.