I have great news to bring you from the reedbed.
Over the last couple of weeks we have noticed an increase in bittern activity around the reserve. One of our volunteers noticed several flight into a specific area of the reedbed so we decided to head out onto the reserve to check it out. Thanks to the Coastal Change Project I have got a large pile of soil which makes a fantastic vantage point for checking the reedbed. From our lofty position we also saw two flights into the same area.
Although early in the year I was convinced that these were feeding flights and we arranged for one of the RSPB bittern researchers to come up and help with a watch. This took place last Thursday and we were delighted to see a bird flying back and forth...confirming young in the nest.
Although we will not be visiting the nest, bitterns lay 3-6 eggs and have an incubation period of 25-26 days and is carried out by the female. Once the eggs hatch, fledging takes a mammoth 50-55 days although the young will leave the nest after about 30 days and start to explore their surroundings. As with incubation, it is only the female that carries out these duties leaving the male to continue booming in an attempt to attract another mate!
Throughout the breeding season, it is possible, with care, to sex a bittern. During the courtship period only, the male has a blue base to his bill and surrounding to the eye.
After a couple of blank years where we haven't confirmed any active nests it is great to have one this year. If you would like to see one, the best place to watch from is the two benches on the hump overlooking the reedbed. The female has been feeding on the grazing meadow pool and flying towards the dead trees to the nest. Both of these pictures have been taken from the path in the last couple of weeks and shows how well you can see them at times.