This is an introduced species that has been recorded in several northeastern states, from Maine to New Jersey, as well as in Ontario and elsewhere in southeastern Canada, with some records also in British Columbia. This seems to be the first Ohio record in iNaturalist. I know of one other Ohio record, an individual photographed by Tim Turner in Greene Co. (just east of Dayton) on Aug. 11, 2018.

This is an interesting story with a happy ending. My friend David Ferry and I were driving along Hwy 87 at 60 mph near Crystal Beach, Texas, when I glimpsed what I thought was a Least Bittern standing on the very edge of the road with cars whizzing past. I made a U turn and went back where we indeed found a Least Bittern, resting back on its tarsus joints within inches of passing traffic. I picked up the bird and we stood on the side of the road to examine it. My best guess is that (1) it took a glancing blow off a car windshield, perhaps, or (2) It was totally exhausted from migrating across the Gulf of Mexico. It did not seem to be badly injured and its wings did not seem to be broken. Rather than just leave it here on the road to be crushed and killed I decided we would take it to a nearby marsh area off the roadway where it could die in peace and dignity. So we drove off with Dave holding the bird in his lap and heading to a marsh well off the road where I know Least Bitterns were present. We put the bird down on the edge of the marsh and it just stood there looking at us. I was about to just drive away and let nature take its course, but decided to take a few more shots of the bird. I got down low to the bird's level and it went into the characteristic bittern pose by stretching its neck high and trying to look like a swaying bit of marsh grass. It kept a watchful eye on me from both sides of its raised bill and image 1 shows this action. The bird then started slowly walking away from us. I bent down to take another shot and the bittern took flight and flew out into the marsh and out of sight. I choose to believe it recovered and is doing well.

near Crystal Beach,
Galveston Co., Texas
26 April 2018

This sighting was pure luck. I was walking along Blacklick Greenway Trail and noticed a small brown "leaf" embedded in the newly leafing honeysuckles. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the leaf would turn away from me in response to my movement. I then had the biggest thrill of my life when I discovered it was an eastern red bat. He/she probably just crawled out from under the leaf litter below to warm up in the sun. Truly my best find thus far!