The Bittern is known for being the hardest bird to see in Britain. It is a very secretive bird, moving silently and slowly through the reeds within which it is immaculately well camouflaged. Their population is very small making it an RSPB Red List species. The RSPB website states there are only 75 breeding males in the UK but in the winter, Bitterns migrate from Europe to Britain increasing the number of Bitterns to 600. The winter months are the best time to see Bitterns in Britain but it is still very difficult to see this elusive bird.
This shy bird surprisingly visits the London Wetland Centre, very close to the centre of the capital every year. The reed beds and marsh habitat are an urban oasis for Bitterns and up to six of the rare birds have been recorded this winter. Last year, I tried several times to see just a glimpse of a Bittern and failed. And this year for the first time, I have been lucky to be able to see and photograph this bird.
In the 1990s Bitterns nearly became extinct in Britain due to a loss of reed bed habitats and the draining of wetlands. Conservation efforts and habitat maintenance have seen the bird bounce back and its population is now slowly increasing.
Bitterns are masters of camouflage and hunting and will stay very still waiting for prey to approach, therefore are very difficult to spot. With the help of birders, friends and other photographers I’ve had the opportunity to see several Bitterns in the London Wetland Centre, which makes sitting in hides for over 10 hours’ worth it!
The migrant Bitterns at the London Wetland Centre and around Britain will be soon returning back to their breeding territories in Europe.
