Olympus OM-10, handheld Vivitar 75-260 at 260mm Kodak Gold 400 Exposure unrecorded

Maybe I'm wrong...

Okay, let me set the scene: back in the '90s, my first trip alone to Florida, dedicated to photography. I'm stalking through Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island and spot a bird I don't recognize perched in a tree, calling regularly. I start moving towards it slowly, since I have no lens that will get a decent shot at any distance. In time, I get right underneath it – it's seen me several times as I approached, doesn't seem too concerned. Its attention is clearly on its calls.

From below, I snap a few good shots in profile. Then, on a lark (sorry), I decide to imitate its call. The bird immediately spins and fixes me with the look you see above. And holds it, just staring. I could be reading too much into it, but it sure looks indignant to me.

I suspect this yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) was marking territory as I came along. Whether my imitation was accurate or not, it certainly interrupted the process. Myself, I couldn't take being given the Evil Eye by a bird too seriously, and was trying hard not to giggle. Yeah, I'm a true professional...