I’ve been chasing a few of these enormous birds around with my camera ever since I got it. Tuesday I was bumping around along the sandbars south of Bismarck (thank heavens for big tires) and just barely noticed this fella out of the corner of my eye. I got out of the truck and hoofed it over to where he was fishing, but unfortunately they are very skittish birds. That’s why I have yet to get a decent photo of one!

This didn’t turn out so badly, actually…considering I was walking in sand without a tripod or monopod. The great beast took off and I whipped the camera into place, held onto the shutter for dear life, and this is the result. I’m told they tend to be territorial, so I know where to look for him in the future.

Despite my wordcraft, that just didn’t have the excitement of a Moby Dick moment, did it?