[EBB Sightings] American Bittern on New Marsh, Lake Elizabeth, Fremont

At 2:40 on this warm and bright afternoon, an AMERICAN BITTERN was out of the reeds and in the open in the far northwest corner of New Marsh at Lake Elizabeth. My friend Elizabeth's daughter, Taylor, visiting on spring break from the US Naval Academy, pointed the bird out with a surprised, "What's THAT?"? Some of you may recall that her mother, Elizabeth, found a bittern at New Marsh back in December 2008 with the classic words, "What's that brown thing over there?"? Apparently, bittern-spotting runs in the family.? The bittern was only 6' from Taylor, but by the time she fumbled for her cell phone to take a photo, it had high-stepped quickly back into the reeds.? My camera was, of course, at home.

Ranger Sandy Ferreira pulled up in her truck to advise that some of the TREE SWALLOW boxes already have active nests. Many tree swallows pairs perched together atop their properties.? 

Pairs of selasphorous hummingbirds (mates? territorial combatants?) were buzzing along Mission Creek at the golf course and in Gomes Park where a mated pair of SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS circled, twinkling, overhead. A pair of NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS was perched on wires just east of Gomes Park. 

Last Friday morning, a female BELTED KINGFISHER was perched on the wires over Stiver's Lagoon on the south side of the lake.? Sandy tells me that the bird often hunts from that spot.

Directions: New Marsh is on the north side of Lake Elizabeth in Fremont's Central Park.? Park by the tennis courts at Stevenson and Gallaudet and walk towards the lake. A footpath across the R/R tracks just south of New Marsh runs beside the creek and connects to Gomes Park.? Stiver's Lagoon is on the south side of the lake across from the Aqua Adventure Water Park. Map is at http://www.fremont.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2291. 
 

Stephanie Floyd
Fremont