An Hour with the Bittern at Fishers Green

6th December 2022

Time to spend another hour with the Bittern at Fishers Green, but first a look at Holyfield Hall Farm to see how the finch flocks are doing. There were hundreds of Chaffinches feeding on the specially sown bird crops, but either keeping low in the crop itself or when disturbed mostly flying to trees still in leaf. There were no Linnets this time and not a single Brambling.

Further up the track a number of Redwings were feeding on the Hawthorn berries in the hedgerow, and a small group of Fallow Deer were sunning themselves at the top of the field.

Moving back towards the Discovery Centre a male Stonechat was showing well and a Goldfinch was feeding on some Lesser Burdock seeds.

Now at the centre it was time to settle down and wait to see if the Bittern was going to put in an appearance. It had shown about 10 minutes earlier so at least we knew what part of the reed bed it was in. After about an hour it broke cover and strolled across one of the rides allowing a few shots to be taken. Sadly they were a bit back-lit as the forecast afternoon cloud did not materialise, but mustn't grumble.