It appears that our 'recent sightings' page is playing up at the moment, so a quick Bittern update here instead (hopefully!).
With all the staff staking out the various hides across the reserve yesterday afternoon to try to discover the Bittern's roost site, it decided to have the day off and wasn't seen at all. The highlight reported from a very chilled warden at the Fen Hide was 'an iceberg shaped like a duck'!
Today though, it has been seen again - three sightings from the Fen Hide, with the last just before lunchtime when it clambered up into the reeds about 30m away from three very lucky observers. They do say you make your own luck though - you only get these sightings if you're out looking, so well done to those who braved today's slightly miserable weather to visit us!
No sign of the Bittern since the 7th that I know of - but not that many people have been looking in the last couple of days, so I'd not be surprised if it was still out there somewhere. Can't guarantee such good views as on 'Natural World' though!
Don't forget to let us know your sightings either in the wildlife logs on the reserve or here on the community pages. We've still not seen goldcrest, treecreeper, ringed plover and one or two other 'expected' birds on the reserve yet this year, so reports of common birds can be very interesting.
I was just looking at the Bitterns in Essex on telly. Must pop back up for a look about. Saw Ralf last time as well as the partridges etc..