A photographer is challenging people to 'spot the birdie' in these pictures she took in India, which shows a yellow
bittern hiding in plain sight.
A little
bittern has been spotted in a reedbed at RSPB Saltholme - the first confirmed sighting of this species on Teesside for 166 years.
Scores of birdwatchers have captured once-in-a-lifetime photos of the little
bittern discovered in reed beds ar Chelmarsh reservoir, close to Bridgnorth.
Between four and five
bitterns, whose habitat is reed beds, were spotted at Gosforth Park nature reserve - the highest count in the club's area since 1956.
GROWING numbers of
bitterns in Wales are contributing to record population figures for the wetland bird, once extinct in the UK.
BIRD NOTES With Julian Hughes | A 'booming'
Bittern PICTURE: ANDY HAY (RSPB-IMAGES.COM)
BITTERNS, those rare herons with a deep booming call, are consolidating their presence in North Wales.
These titles will be followed by novels such as Steve Burrows' A Siege Of
Bitterns, A Pitying Of Doves and A Cast Of Falcons.
It also means that presenters Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games are unlikely to run out of things to talk about between now and June 11, as Minsmere's dunes, grasslands and shingle beaches become home to rare birds, including marsh harriers, avocets, and
bitterns. The focus isn't just on our feathered friends, as in a Springwatch first, three families of badgers have been fitted with GPS trackers.
The trio will be checking on the state of the local wildlife and there is more than likely to be plenty of entertainment from a colourful cast of characters, including rare birds such as marsh harriers, avocets, nightjars and
bitterns, as well as old programme favourites such as otters, woodpeckers and red deer.
The reserve is run by the Natural History Society of Northumbria, where members have been boosted by the appearance of three rare
bitterns at the site over the winter.
Over the next three weeks the team will get up close with rare birds including marsh harriers, avocets and
bitterns as well as keeping a check on all our familiar favourites; red deer, badgers and those playful otters.
Former winner Oscar Dewhurst, 17, chose
bitterns and took pictures of the wading birds around London parks.
It is hoped the plans could see the return of iconic species such as the crane, "booming"
bitterns and the white-faced darter dragonfly to parts of Cheshire.
Niall Hatch, of Birdwatch Ireland, said: "This is tremendously exciting news because
bitterns became extinct here in the mid-19th century.
