Back in 1997, there were just 11 booming male Bitterns left in the UK – almost extinct. Thanks to conservation by @rspb.bsky.social and @naturalengland.bsky.social 283 booming males were recorded in 2024.
Les Cater shares his story and stunning photos of these rare birds ⤵️
Les Cater shares his story and stunning photos of these rare birds ⤵️
Hidden wonders: my fascinating encounters with the Bittern
Elusive and majestic, the Bittern’s booming call echoes across Minsmere’s reeds – a symbol of hope and conservation success
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Back in 1997, there were just 11 booming male Bitterns left in the UK – almost extinct. Thanks to conservation by @rspb.bsky.social and @naturalengland.bsky.social 283 booming males were recorded in 2024.
Les Cater shares his story and stunning photos of these rare birds ⤵️
Les Cater shares his story and stunning photos of these rare birds ⤵️
Back in 1997 there were just 11 booming male Bitterns left in the UK – almost extinct. Thanks to conservation by @rspb.bsky.social and @naturalengland.bsky.social 283 booming males were recorded in 2024.
Les Cater shares his story and stunning photos of these rare birds ⤵️
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Les Cater shares his story and stunning photos of these rare birds ⤵️
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Hidden wonders: my fascinating encounters with the Bittern
Elusive and majestic, the Bittern’s booming call echoes across Minsmere’s reeds – a symbol of hope and conservation success
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Back in 1997 there were just 11 booming male Bitterns left in the UK – almost extinct. Thanks to conservation by @rspb.bsky.social and @naturalengland.bsky.social 283 booming males were recorded in 2024.
Les Cater shares his story and stunning photos of these rare birds ⤵️
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Les Cater shares his story and stunning photos of these rare birds ⤵️
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Back in 1997, there were just 11 booming male Bitterns left in the UK – almost extinct. Thanks to conservation by @RSPB and @NaturalEngland, there are now 283 booming males in 2024.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
Hidden wonders: my fascinating encounters with the Bittern
Elusive and majestic, the Bittern’s booming call echoes across Minsmere’s reeds – a symbol of hope and conservation success
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Back in 1997, there were just 11 booming male Bitterns left in the UK – almost extinct. Thanks to conservation by @RSPB and @NaturalEngland, there are now 283 booming males in 2024.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
Leslie Cater watched two Bitterns perform their courtship display – something few people ever see. Half an hour of slow, beautiful ritual. He'll never forget it. 💛
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
Hidden wonders: my fascinating encounters with the Bittern
Elusive and majestic, the Bittern’s booming call echoes across Minsmere’s reeds – a symbol of hope and conservation success
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Leslie Cater watched two Bitterns perform their courtship display – something few people ever see. Half an hour of slow, beautiful ritual. He'll never forget it. 💛
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
Bitterns are masters of disguise. Their buff-brown, streaked feathers blend perfectly with the reeds – making them almost invisible. Often, it’s their deep, echoing boom that gives them away writes Leslie Cater.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
Hidden wonders: my fascinating encounters with the Bittern
Elusive and majestic, the Bittern’s booming call echoes across Minsmere’s reeds – a symbol of hope and conservation success
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Bitterns are masters of disguise. Their buff-brown, streaked feathers blend perfectly with the reeds – making them almost invisible. Often, it’s their deep, echoing boom that gives them away writes Leslie Cater.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
Chile day 3: Only managed a few hours birding as we had to return the car due to the smashed window & catch our new flight to Arica - 24 hours earlier than originally planned. But it was a great few hours birding - scoring on 2x singing Stripe-backed Bitterns.🪶
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Chile day 3: Only managed a few hours birding as we had to return the car due to the smashed window & catch our new flight to Arica - 24 hours earlier than originally planned. But it was a great few hours birding - scoring on 2x singing Stripe-backed Bitterns.🪶
Pectinate Claw in a Pond-Heron species (Ardeola sp.). Seen in nightjars, owls, pratincoles, terns, grebes, herons, egrets, bitterns & cormorants.
#BirdsSeenIn2025 #Ipoh #Perak #Malaysia @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social #birds #nature #wildlife
#BirdsSeenIn2025 #Ipoh #Perak #Malaysia @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social #birds #nature #wildlife
November 7, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Pectinate Claw in a Pond-Heron species (Ardeola sp.). Seen in nightjars, owls, pratincoles, terns, grebes, herons, egrets, bitterns & cormorants.
#BirdsSeenIn2025 #Ipoh #Perak #Malaysia @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social #birds #nature #wildlife
#BirdsSeenIn2025 #Ipoh #Perak #Malaysia @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social #birds #nature #wildlife
Bitterns can be so elusive! As soon as they realize they are being watched they become experts at hide-and-seek
November 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Bitterns can be so elusive! As soon as they realize they are being watched they become experts at hide-and-seek
Thanks Lizzie, the Bitterns were great to see out in the open on my visits to Minsmere.
November 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Thanks Lizzie, the Bitterns were great to see out in the open on my visits to Minsmere.
Thank you FOC, i'm just lucky to have a few venues close by were Kingfishers come along quite often. Now the Bitterns i rarely see but the visit to Minsmere was a special trip due to the Bitterns coming out of the reeds on the days i was there.
November 5, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Thank you FOC, i'm just lucky to have a few venues close by were Kingfishers come along quite often. Now the Bitterns i rarely see but the visit to Minsmere was a special trip due to the Bitterns coming out of the reeds on the days i was there.
In 1997, only 11 male great bitterns were recorded in the UK.
2025 surveying shows 283 booming males, a huge statistical increase but numerically still scarce/rare.
#Nikon #photography #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #nature
2025 surveying shows 283 booming males, a huge statistical increase but numerically still scarce/rare.
#Nikon #photography #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #nature
October 31, 2025 at 12:23 PM
In 1997, only 11 male great bitterns were recorded in the UK.
2025 surveying shows 283 booming males, a huge statistical increase but numerically still scarce/rare.
#Nikon #photography #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #nature
2025 surveying shows 283 booming males, a huge statistical increase but numerically still scarce/rare.
#Nikon #photography #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #nature
No Bitterns but this Kingfisher was there for pretty much the entire day. He only disappeared for a few mins every couple of hours which gave us enough time to change perches.
October 30, 2025 at 5:57 PM
No Bitterns but this Kingfisher was there for pretty much the entire day. He only disappeared for a few mins every couple of hours which gave us enough time to change perches.
Did you know that little bitterns are really cool wading birds that fight cis normativity and bourgeois laws ?
Linocut prints at boutique.lokipropagand.art/produit/radi...
Free/Open price DLs at ko-fi.com/lokigwynblei...
🔥 🔥 🔥
#Art #Lino #Birds #Queer #Anarchy
Linocut prints at boutique.lokipropagand.art/produit/radi...
Free/Open price DLs at ko-fi.com/lokigwynblei...
🔥 🔥 🔥
#Art #Lino #Birds #Queer #Anarchy
October 29, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Did you know that little bitterns are really cool wading birds that fight cis normativity and bourgeois laws ?
Linocut prints at boutique.lokipropagand.art/produit/radi...
Free/Open price DLs at ko-fi.com/lokigwynblei...
🔥 🔥 🔥
#Art #Lino #Birds #Queer #Anarchy
Linocut prints at boutique.lokipropagand.art/produit/radi...
Free/Open price DLs at ko-fi.com/lokigwynblei...
🔥 🔥 🔥
#Art #Lino #Birds #Queer #Anarchy
🪶Great Bitterns have entered the game!
October 28, 2025 at 1:08 AM
🪶Great Bitterns have entered the game!
Had a day off yesterday, so popped to Slimbridge. lovely to see two Bitterns hiding in the reed beds!!💚 #UKWildlife #birding
October 25, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Had a day off yesterday, so popped to Slimbridge. lovely to see two Bitterns hiding in the reed beds!!💚 #UKWildlife #birding
I have been going through my Bittern files, and there are many, to many, but I have found some lovely images I had yet to process from several years ago. This is Island mere hide back in those days, from under the hide. Some great setting sun moments, some lovely Bitterns @rspbminsmere.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I have been going through my Bittern files, and there are many, to many, but I have found some lovely images I had yet to process from several years ago. This is Island mere hide back in those days, from under the hide. Some great setting sun moments, some lovely Bitterns @rspbminsmere.bsky.social
One of 2 Bitterns swimming across from the island, viewed from the Ziess Hide @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social this morning. #ukbirds #ukbirding
October 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
One of 2 Bitterns swimming across from the island, viewed from the Ziess Hide @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social this morning. #ukbirds #ukbirding
Winter is often the best time to see Water Rails and Bitterns, particularly if there's a cold spell with ice. If you can get to the coast, a few of the birds should be possible. Reckon we will get influxes of Waxwings and Short-eared Owls over the next few weeks, so look out for reports.
October 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Winter is often the best time to see Water Rails and Bitterns, particularly if there's a cold spell with ice. If you can get to the coast, a few of the birds should be possible. Reckon we will get influxes of Waxwings and Short-eared Owls over the next few weeks, so look out for reports.
If all you see is bitterns in breeding season, it’s boomscrolling.
If the algorithm's just showing you Optimistic, Brightly Coloured 90s Adverts For Jumpers it's Life, Liberty And Fruit Of The Loom Scrolling
If you're wandering around old graveyards it's tombscrolling
October 21, 2025 at 5:09 PM
If all you see is bitterns in breeding season, it’s boomscrolling.
Today was an awesome day for watching and capturing the Bitterns at RSPB Minsmere, the Island Mere Hide definitely was the place to be between 8am -12pm.
They are rough screen grabs off the back of the camera.
#birds #photography #EastCoastKin @rspb.bsky.social #birdphotography #ukbirding
They are rough screen grabs off the back of the camera.
#birds #photography #EastCoastKin @rspb.bsky.social #birdphotography #ukbirding
October 21, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Today was an awesome day for watching and capturing the Bitterns at RSPB Minsmere, the Island Mere Hide definitely was the place to be between 8am -12pm.
They are rough screen grabs off the back of the camera.
#birds #photography #EastCoastKin @rspb.bsky.social #birdphotography #ukbirding
They are rough screen grabs off the back of the camera.
#birds #photography #EastCoastKin @rspb.bsky.social #birdphotography #ukbirding
I couldn't believe them today Lorraine, i got there at 7.45 and they were very active until around 12pm, then they still kept coming back but not as much as earlier. I will post some screen shots from the back of the camera later of the KF's, Bitterns & Green Sandpiper.
October 21, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I couldn't believe them today Lorraine, i got there at 7.45 and they were very active until around 12pm, then they still kept coming back but not as much as earlier. I will post some screen shots from the back of the camera later of the KF's, Bitterns & Green Sandpiper.
drew some bitterns between my m8s pulls
October 19, 2025 at 6:28 AM
drew some bitterns between my m8s pulls
October 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Bearded tit female quietly moving through the reeds when I was under Island mere hide @RSPBMinsmere
while I was watching the Bitterns. It was lovely to see her, as we all go for the males, but I think the females are as beautiful in their own right. What do you think 🤔 😉😊
while I was watching the Bitterns. It was lovely to see her, as we all go for the males, but I think the females are as beautiful in their own right. What do you think 🤔 😉😊
October 17, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Bearded tit female quietly moving through the reeds when I was under Island mere hide @RSPBMinsmere
while I was watching the Bitterns. It was lovely to see her, as we all go for the males, but I think the females are as beautiful in their own right. What do you think 🤔 😉😊
while I was watching the Bitterns. It was lovely to see her, as we all go for the males, but I think the females are as beautiful in their own right. What do you think 🤔 😉😊
Forest Bittern (Zonerodius heliosylus)
Family Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
Range: New Guinea, including Salawati (Raja Ampat Islands, northwest of New Guinea), and Aru Islands (off southwestern New Guinea)
IUCN status: Near Threatened
Family Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
Range: New Guinea, including Salawati (Raja Ampat Islands, northwest of New Guinea), and Aru Islands (off southwestern New Guinea)
IUCN status: Near Threatened
ML628869243 - Forest Bittern - Macaulay Library
© Daniel López-Velasco | Ornis Birding Expeditions; Western, Papua New Guinea; 07 Sep 2024
macaulaylibrary.org
October 17, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Forest Bittern (Zonerodius heliosylus)
Family Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
Range: New Guinea, including Salawati (Raja Ampat Islands, northwest of New Guinea), and Aru Islands (off southwestern New Guinea)
IUCN status: Near Threatened
Family Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
Range: New Guinea, including Salawati (Raja Ampat Islands, northwest of New Guinea), and Aru Islands (off southwestern New Guinea)
IUCN status: Near Threatened