What was that strange but familiar croaking sound I thought to myself whilst working out on the reserve preparing the tern rafts for the new season. Then I saw it. High up, where you think they shouldn't go were two bitterns in close flight. On closer inspection the one infront was noticably smaller than the one behind. It quickly became apparent that what I and others were witnessing was a female bittern being pursued by a male consumed with ardour. He was croaking his love pleas to her and every now and then would catch up and seemingly 'pinch' at her behind with his beak. The pursuit continued for another twenty minutes until at last they descended together into the privacy of the reedbed.
Later on I discovered that a couple of hours earlier two bittern had been seen on the ground flying around each other. Perhaps the same pair, or maybe some other love struck birds!
The male bittern is noticably larger than the female when both are seen together. It is reputed that almost a third of the male's body weight is given over to the muscles required to produce its characteristic booming