American Bittern (photo by Bob Dyer)

1/22/06—Today I confimed there were two American Bittern in the left channel around the cattails. This is the first time I've seen two at one time for a year or so.....Here's the test. What is the proof that this is not just the same bird which flew to a different spot? 

Sibley and bird references books show the American Bittern with yellow eyes. Going over my 50 or so Bittern shots at Shollenberger, I note photos showing yellow eyes, and many showing birds with red eyes. One reference says juveniles have yellow eyes but fails to drop the other shoe by stating that the color is different in adults.  Another reference says the adults "have yellow irises which turn orange during courtship." I have several Bitterns "booming" and it almost looks like they have olive eyes - while that could be a product of the available lighting, the two shots above were taken in the same light. It is also too soon for the "booming" season, in my opinion. It amazed me that  two birds had different colored irises on the same day. 

Attached is another shot, more of a close-up, from my files showing a red-eyed Bittern.