Bitterns, everybody knows them, some people have heard them boom and even fewer have caught a glimpse of these elusive birds.
Like many of you I’ve been caught up in Springwatch fever recently so rushed back to one of my favourite reserves, RSPB Minsmere. Here in the glorious sunshine me and the other eager visitors sat in the hide were treated to an absolutely fantastic display of wildlife. The purple heron that has been at Minsmere recently floated lazily past, whilst a marsh harrier sat on a branch out in the open. A hobby banked inches from the hide, gleefully displaying the dragonfly he had grabbed for lunch. But the one thing which excited the crowd more than anything else... the bittern.
This rare heron is having a bit of a renaissance at the minute, thanks to the work done by the RSPB and other conservation organisations there were over 150 ‘boomers’ as the male bittern’s are affectionately called heard in 2015. Not bad for a species that was on the way out with only 11 booming males heard as recently as 1997.
When I first entered the hide it was pretty quiet, the ten or so people already there muttering to themselves mainly, until one voice rose above the rest, ‘Bittern!’ In a flurry of movement suddenly everything else seemed irrelevant as scopes and cameras whirled around, everybody focused on one tiny part of the reedbed. Descriptions of where it was passed around like chinese whispers and just as people were calling defeat to the bitterns amazing camouflage abilities it stepped out in its strutting pose, head held high demanding attention. It wandered across the edge of the reedbed for half an hour, occasionally stopping to show off its fantastic hunting skills, striking the water in a flash pulling out a fish to the tune of a hundred camera shutters.
Thankfully, Minsmere isn’t the only reserve these secretive birds can be seen and right now is one of the best times of year to spot them as they make regular flights to feed their young, why not search out your own magic moment at a reserve close to you, here are five of the best across the country for bitterns and other reedbed wildlife.
Minsmere
Bittern capital of the south, the diverse habitats this reserve is home to makes it one of the most famous nature reserves in the country.
Leighton Moss
The largest reedbed in north west England is an ideal home for bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers.
Ham Wall
Somerset has more bitterns than any other county and the very first nests were discovered at Ham Wall back in 2008.
Blacktoft Sands
The largest tidal reedbed in England is a fantastic place to see elusive bitterns, as well as being a good place to spot barn owls hunting for voles in the late afternoon sun at this time of year.
Lakenheath Fen
Once a carrot field, Lakenheath Fen is now an incredibly important reedbed as well as a fantastic place to spot hobbies and kingfishers.