Well renowned for their perfectly camouflaged plumage making them extremely difficult to see, an individual has been spotted along the reedbed at our Blue House Farm nature reserve in North Fambridge.

The Bittern is a secretive bird that silently lurks along reedbeds on the lookout for food. Part of the Heron family, these birds can stand perfectly still and when alarmed they will raise their heads so they expertly blend in with their surroundings.

In spring the sound of the males “booming” to attract females can travel for remarkably long distances, meaning they are heard far more frequently than seen. Sadly, the Bittern has experienced a downward trend in their population across Europe and their UK conservation status is ‘Amber’, meaning there is conservation concern for the species.

Bitterns need large expanses of reedbed to successfully breed, however in winter they are not solely restricted to these sites and they can be found in areas with only small patches of reed.

This is an extremely rare sighting having a Bittern at Blue House Farm nature reserve. It is likely this individual is migrating either from its breeding site in the UK or coming in from the continent to spend the winter here. The reedbeds are relatively small at Blue House Farm so it’s been a great opportunity for visitors to see this incredible bird over the past few days.