Bittern - close-up
After many long days in a hide waiting to photograph bitterns, only once did one come this close.
Bitterns are solitary and secretive birds who live and breed in reed beds in freshwater wetlands and swamps. Their plumage is beautifully camouflaged to blend in among the stems of reeds where they remain hidden. They are usually seen standing in shallow water on the edge of reed-beds. If the Bittern is disturbed, it will freeze, point its bill into the sky and stretch its long neck up in order to become invisible among the reeds.
Their main diet is small fish, eels and amphibians. Aquatic invertebrates, small mammals and birds are also eaten. Hunting takes place mainly at dusk or dawn in shallow water near reed-beds. They stand motionless among reed stems waiting for a fish or frog to pass by. Cold winter weather causes them to move to more open water to catch fish.
These birds fly short distances to other areas when foraging for food. It rises awkwardly with its neck extended, flying steadily low over reeds and then drops down into the cover of a reed bed. It also climbs the stems of tall reeds with its head and neck peering over the top.
From late summer onwards there is regular influx of wintering Bitterns in the UK. It is thought that these birds migrate in a generally south-westerly direction, probably mainly from the Nordic and Baltic countries where the population is entirely migratory. My Bittern photographs were taken from the hide at 70 Acre Lake in the Lea Valley, Essex.
Bittern - close-up
After many long days in a hide waiting to photograph bitterns, only once did one come this close.
Bitterns are solitary and secretive birds who live and breed in reed beds in freshwater wetlands and swamps. Their plumage is beautifully camouflaged to blend in among the stems of reeds where they remain hidden. They are usually seen standing in shallow water on the edge of reed-beds. If the Bittern is disturbed, it will freeze, point its bill into the sky and stretch its long neck up in order to become invisible among the reeds.
Their main diet is small fish, eels and amphibians. Aquatic invertebrates, small mammals and birds are also eaten. Hunting takes place mainly at dusk or dawn in shallow water near reed-beds. They stand motionless among reed stems waiting for a fish or frog to pass by. Cold winter weather causes them to move to more open water to catch fish.
These birds fly short distances to other areas when foraging for food. It rises awkwardly with its neck extended, flying steadily low over reeds and then drops down into the cover of a reed bed. It also climbs the stems of tall reeds with its head and neck peering over the top.
From late summer onwards there is regular influx of wintering Bitterns in the UK. It is thought that these birds migrate in a generally south-westerly direction, probably mainly from the Nordic and Baltic countries where the population is entirely migratory. My Bittern photographs were taken from the hide at 70 Acre Lake in the Lea Valley, Essex.