Bittern bonanza

[scholesy]

Took a trip to Potteric Carr Nature Reserve (2 miles outside Doncaster) on Sunday with the hopeful intention of catching a glimpse of a bittern. Potteric Carr is ideal habitat for bittern, all freshwater marshes and reed-beds and they often winter in these northern areas. There have been sightings every day of bitterns on the site for several weeks now, with 6 spotted on one occasion. But with bittern’s, knowing they are around and managing to see one are two separate issues.

Well we struck lucky quite early in the day. As we entered a hide, two people leaving told us there had just been a bittern around about 5 mins ago. In front of us was around 30yards of short cut reeds surrounded by tall uncut reeds. A 10ft wide channel ran in between the reeds. After a short while we spotted the bittern. And for the next 30mins keep our eyes on the area it was in. Every so often we would get frustratingly brief glimpses of the bittern as it popped its head up or we caught it moving slightly. For the majority of this time we couldn’t see a thing, not even moving reeds.

Then eventually the bittern showed itself properly as it emerged out of the short reeds and made its way across the channel to reed-bed on the opposite side. The water must have been quite deep as the bittern actually swam across rather than walk. It then proceeded to feed and was out in the open for a while allowing us to get some fantastic views. It made our painstakingly patient wait well worth it.

I’ve always know managing to find a bittern is amazingly difficult, more luck than anything else. But, having found one, getting anything like a decent view is also incredibly hard. Hardly moving, keeping so low, amazing camouflage, its secretive shy nature making it a real delight to get such great views.

[Tursiops]

I'm green with envy. The only bittern I've ever seen was a distant bird flapping over the reeds at Stodmarsh, Kent, many years ago. Good enough for a tick, but very unsatisfying.
Tursiops

[pheonix]

one of my collegues went on a bittern training course recently, came back with some amaving photos. i too am green with envy!

[scholesy]

Yeah, that was like my only other sighting of a bittern. I thinks that's the most common type of sighting that people manage. Early in the morning or at dusk. Anything else for any amount of time requires good luck and a lot of patience.

We thought we had a good chance of a sighting at Potteric Carr though. Bittern have attempted to breed in these areas and around the Humber especially, but so far unsuccessfully. But with a number wintering in the North East like this it gives us the opportunity to see some.

Potter Carr nature reserve is a part of the Yorkshire Wildlife trust and had its own independent website. They have daily update of what has been spotted, including number of bitterns and which particular marsh they were seen at.


If any of you guys are in the area, now may be a good time to give it a try.
Here you go:

http://www.potteric-carr.org.uk/

[Diane]

Well done on seeing the Bittern. Even though there are a few at Potteric, they can be pretty hard to see sometimes.

Here's one I saw earlier (a couple of years ago, in fact).

[scholesy]

Great photo Diane...

Phoenix, what exactly is a bittern training course?
Is it to do with the creating/managing of a suitable habitat for bitterns?

Do you know what it entails?

[pheonix]

i will try and find out some details for you

[John]

Originally Posted by Diane

Well done on seeing the Bittern. Even though there are a few at Potteric, they can be pretty hard to see sometimes.

Here's one I saw earlier (a couple of years ago, in fact).

Smart photo Diane. I have never seen one so much out in the open like that. They are usually skulking in the reeds.

[henrya]

Quote
Phoenix, what exactly is a bittern training course?
Endquote

Surely it involves training bitterns to skulk around amongst reeds in front of bird hides, giving tantalising glimpses of themselves, and hardly ever appearing clearly or long enough for decent photographs. (Or do they do that naturally?)

henrya

[glsammy]

We must have been very lucky. We went to Potteric Carr last week, and in the first hide two people were looking at two Bitterns in the reeds. So within 10 minutes of being there, we had seen two! I tried to take some pictures but they were directly in line with the sun and a long way off so they are very indistinct. I've included a couple of images, Its almost as challenging to see them in these as it is in real life!

[digi]

Originally Posted by glsammy

We must have been very lucky. We went to Potteric Carr last week, and in the first hide two people were looking at two Bitterns in the reeds. So within 10 minutes of being there, we had seen two! I tried to take some pictures but they were directly in line with the sun and a long way off so they are very indistinct. I've included a couple of images, Its almost as challenging to see them in these as it is in real life!

Graham have you seen the one at Attenborough?

[glsammy]

No, I haven't Digi. I've looked and looked and looked! Spent plenty of time in the hide and followed the rumoured sighting, but never succeeded.

[digi]

Originally Posted by glsammy

No, I haven't Digi. I've looked and looked and looked! Spent plenty of time in the hide and followed the rumoured sighting, but never succeeded.

Funny that same here, I wonder if it really exists?

I will PM you.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by digi

Funny that same here, I wonder if it really exists?

I wondered that as well. On quite a few of their sightings, I've been slightly sceptical. The Number of Short eared owls seems to grow weekly..... I've seen 3, I've heard of 5, and even 6... They are not exactly invisible when they go hunting...

[largfella]

HI I'm new to this forum and bird watching, but I feel that I must tell you about my first day. It was last thursday at the London wetland center. I had such a great day we actually got to see not one Bittern but Two!! at the same time. What a great day me and my girlfriend are totally hooked, but I think things might go down hill after such a great day.

[wildone]

Hi Largfella and welcome to WAB a great site for wildlife. I am green with envy never having managed to see a Bittern. Glad you and your girlfriend had such a good time; believe me there will be other equally good days when you see something you least expect.

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by scholesy

Took a trip to Potteric Carr Nature Reserve (2 miles outside Doncaster) on Sunday with the hopeful intention of catching a glimpse of a bittern. Potteric Carr is ideal habitat for bittern, all freshwater marshes and reed-beds and they often winter in these northern areas. There have been sightings every day of bitterns on the site for several weeks now, with 6 spotted on one occasion. But with bittern’s, knowing they are around and managing to see one are two separate issues.

Well we struck lucky quite early in the day. As we entered a hide, two people leaving told us there had just been a bittern around about 5 mins ago. In front of us was around 30yards of short cut reeds surrounded by tall uncut reeds. A 10ft wide channel ran in between the reeds. After a short while we spotted the bittern. And for the next 30mins keep our eyes on the area it was in. Every so often we would get frustratingly brief glimpses of the bittern as it popped its head up or we caught it moving slightly. For the majority of this time we couldn’t see a thing, not even moving reeds.

Then eventually the bittern showed itself properly as it emerged out of the short reeds and made its way across the channel to reed-bed on the opposite side. The water must have been quite deep as the bittern actually swam across rather than walk. It then proceeded to feed and was out in the open for a while allowing us to get some fantastic views. It made our painstakingly patient wait well worth it.

I’ve always know managing to find a bittern is amazingly difficult, more luck than anything else. But, having found one, getting anything like a decent view is also incredibly hard. Hardly moving, keeping so low, amazing camouflage, its secretive shy nature making it a real delight to get such great views.

Excellent...........I have never seen a bittern before, so well done..............Jon

[pheonix]

sorry, said id find out for you but forgot
it was a course on reed bed management more than anything else, so it wasnt aimed directly at the bittern but the bittern was a big part of it. i have been told who ran it but im sorry i cant remember that now, but it was down in leah mill. hope this may have helped a little somehow......

[scholesy]

Just read an article on RSPB website dated from 8th Feb regarding ‘booming’ bitterns. The RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss recorded its first ‘booming’ bittern of the year at the beginning of February, the earliest for several years. I think Leighton Moss (Lancashire) is the only site in the North of England where bitterns breed.

A male bitterns ‘boom’ is it loud echoing call (like blowing over a milk bottle) during the mating season. A more impressive ‘boom’ equals better chances with females. According the article bitterns start ‘booming’ early in order to hit their peak just at right time. A bit like pre-season training. Makes sense.

The ‘boom’ is also the way in which the population of bitterns is calculated. Each male bittern ‘boom’ is different and unique. I presume the calls are recorded with some high-tech sound equipment that can tell the difference.

I once went to Leighton Moss about 15 years ago, and heard several bitterns and their amazing call. Didn’t see any though, and managed to get a 3inch piece of reed imbedded into my hand. Ended up in A&E.

heres the article on RSPB
http://www.rspb.org.uk/england/north...workingout.asp

[Eileen]

I've heard bitterns booming at Leighton Moss a few times over the years but have never, yet, be lucky enough to spot one. Still I live in hope.

[John]

Originally Posted by Eileen

I've heard bitterns booming at Leighton Moss a few times over the years but have never, yet, be lucky enough to spot one. Still I live in hope.

One of the tricks is to go into the main glass fronted hide about an hour before Dusk. Bitterns have a habit of flying to roost in that period. Mind you I have had them earlier in the day there but that is on the chancy side.

The causeway walk is the place to hear them but they are deep into the reedbed with little chance of seeing them but I did have one fly over my head once but that is an unusual occurence.

John