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American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
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First frost in our garden.
Passed in boat within fifteen feet of a great bittern, standing perfectly still in the water by the riverside, with the point of its bill directly up, as if it knew that from the color of its throat, etc., it was much less likely to be detected in that position, near weeds.
H. D. Thoreau, Journal, August 31, 1855
A great bittern, standing perfectly still in the water by the riverside, with the point of its bill directly up. See August 13, 1852 ("Saw the head and neck of a great bittern projecting above the meadow-grass, exactly like the point of a stump, only I knew there could be no stump there.") See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, American Bittern (the Stake-Diver)
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