Blogs

Hi, At least it has been at Saltholme this week with sightings of three bitterns and three water rails. The bitterns are best looked for at the Haverton viewpoint and it was this Thursday that our hide guides reported three water rail at the wildlife watchpoint. It looks like now is a better time...

Despite a brief thaw early in the week, it's remained very cold at the reserve here in Somerset and it's giving the wildlife a tough time of it. Groups of wildfowl have congregated in areas in front of the first viewing platform and within the Waltons section and kept some of the water, ice free...

We heard a booming bittern at Ham Wall last week and two grunting bitterns (one of which probably the boomer). I mentioned this in the last Recent Sightings blog on Friday. We are interested to hear from any visitors who have heard bitterns during their visits to Ham Wall recently and those you hear...

guest blog by Sue Rendell-Read, Projects Co-ordinator It dawned bright but very cold on Friday morning for this important day for the Minsmere Flood Risk Management Project . It was over five months ago that the North Wall was closed for rebuilding. Since then a terrific amount of hard work by the...

Well it's certainly been a colder week, with snow on Monday and temperatures on Friday as I arrived at work at 8.30am as low as minus 7. So not surprisingly, large areas of the reserve have iced up and large numbers of water fowl are gathered in the unfrozen areas. The best places for viewing these...

This week sees several changes to access arrangements at Minsmere, some permanent, others temporary. First the good news. North Wall finally reopens fully on Friday 3 February following the completion of the Environment Agency flood defence project. Apart from a couple of weeks over Christmas, this...

Plenty to report once again this week I'm pleased to say with lots of interesting sightings! The Yellow Browed Warbler is still present and often seen at the same location as before - the first wooden No Entry gate along the footpath side of the main drain, by the wood. It's often seen with other...

There's still plenty happening on the reserve this week, with several interesting sightings and occurrences. One of the most significant came on Monday, while 3 volunteers were undertaking the monthly WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey). In the north of the reserve a Bittern was heard to grunt (a sound often...

Hi everyone, The chilly weather has brought some of Saltholme's shyest wildlife out into the open. Over the weekend, visitors have been lucky enough to see not one but two bitterns. This one was photographed by Chris Furphy and shared on the Saltholme facebook page . Visit the RSPB projects...

Well what a day today got a couple of good pics today first was when i was going around the loop and parked up my buggy and sat and waited to see if i could see this Bittern, well after what seemed a lifetime in the cold wind i seen it here is the Picture below.

a-ma-ZING! :) lovely stuff... welcome to the forum... what have you got lined up for your next trick?! :)

Normal 0 Normal 0 As Aiki says, they turned up in some unusual places during the period of snow and ice: cricket pitches, allotments, farm ditches etc. I'd certainly recommend you inform the Leicestershire County Recorder of your sighting. His name is Steve...

A Bittern out of the reeds

My first ever glimpse of a Bittern and on Christmas Day too. Best ever present! Barton-upon-Humber on Xmas Day 2010

Looking back at 2010 with regards to the major step forwards in nature conservation we have been involved with made us think, what stands out as the biggest achievement in the year? A few ideas that sprang to mind straight away were the progress made at Titchwell with the new hide and earth works...

Thought I'd share this Christmas tale with a happy ending! This bittern was found on 23 December stunned and disorientated on a road in the Enfield area of London. Following a phone call from a member of the public he was rescued by the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton. After returning the bittern...

Hi Billie and welcome to the RSPB Community. As you have probably gathered, a fair proportion of your fellow members are now positively drooling over your photo. That sighting and image provide a Yuletide bonus that money can't buy. Nice one! JBNTS

I saw a bittern eating

Several views of one from the Wildlife Watchpoint around lunchtime Christmas Eve

Classic pose of bittern outside Lillian's Hide. Bittern wandered along edge of water to left of hide for about 15 minutes before standing in this position for about 5 minutes, then disappeared back into reeds on the left. First ever time seeing a bittern so along with the waxwings was a fantastic...

This afternoon, Mike Warren and I were treated to views of two bitterns (or Billy Bommers as I used to call bitterns when I was growing up in Suffolk; of course, one or both may have been Belinda Boomers!) as dusk descended over the reedbed. There is an obviously pale bird on site and that flew up first...

I was entertained this evening by the spectacle of the starling roost in the Phase 1 reedbed. Birds started to arrive in small flocks from 4 pm and there was a large number by 4.15 pm. Most birds flew in from the south but a couple of larger flocks came in from the north. I always think it's difficult...

Thomas getting very excited as a everyone watched a bittern in front of Island Mere at Spring Celebration

Bittern flying past Island Mere Hide during Spring Celebration (taken by Lindsey Barthorpe). Shortly after this, the bittern walked into view to pose for at least half an hour.