Uncommon bird sighting

[snake]

I went out with the dog this morning, and what a beautiful morning it was, blue skies and a heavy frost. I had a Harrier fly past me at no more than ten metres away, a lovely grey colour with black wing tips. you guessed it, a cock Hen Harrier. We get a few most years but they are not very common.
As I got closer to the creek I noticed a bird flying low above the water in my direction, Its size and shape was unmistakable, it was a Bittern. one of only five I have seen on my patch in forty years.
I watched as it flew past and landed about 300m away. I crept down there on my hands and knees, got soaking wet but no sign of it, to many reeds.
This was one of the few times when I had forgot the camera, I was kicking myself.
I went back this afternoon , took the camera with me but no sign of either bird.
Although I did bump into another Short Eared Owl and took a few more pics, I took this one with the digital zoom on the camera.

It turned out to be a good day.

[AJH748]

Very good pic snake!

[Kayleigh]

Its a beautiful bird Snake I don't know how you do it..Its posing for you..Just like the other one or is it the same one.

[Bouncytigger]

A Lovely Pic Snake

Can't say that I've ever seen an owl!

snif sob....

[gess]

Snake, its a beautiful photo!

Gess

[Rob_D]

Once again, a superb photo Snake. As for Bittern - one of those birds that can be invisible when it's only a few feet away, but let's hope you'll catch it out when you have your camera

[Gaza]

Fabulous photo Snake
Fabulous looking bird.

[Wild-Woman]

Tremendous picture.I've only ever seen one the other side of a field, through a spotting scope! So well done.

[rlchew]

Hi Julie

Kent is having a good SEO winter so far.

There are 1 or 2 birds being seen regularly down the Harty Ferry road on the Isle of Sheppey (in the area around the Capel Fleet bend) and Elmley RSPB reserve is reporting several birds too.

I sneeked across the bridge (Dartford and Swale!) last Sunday and saw Little Owl, Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl on Sheppey.

I had excellent views for long periods of 2 SEOs at Capel Fleet through binoculars and telescope but they were just a bit too far away for decent photos. Here are a few heavily cropped efforts ....







Richard

[Hedge Witch]

Great shots - green with envy

Never seen a Bittern yet, snake. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get a killer shot of one so we don't feel left out Hope you don't suffer from rheumatism, with all that crawling around in the wet