Today's visit to the reserve which was meant to be a quick hour and a half visit turned out to be something more like five and a half hours down at the reserve.
On the way back from the Flashes a quick visit to the reed bed hide at the Moors gave news that the Bittern had been showing earlier in the morning and I went off to the East hide non too bothered that it wasn't about at the moment (I'm not one to go scurrying off in pursuit at the first sign of a bird). However on the way back to the car I decided to drop in once again to the reed bed hide and ended up staying there for quite a while and with the result that the Bittern showed itself more or less on cue at the time it has been showing of late and flew directly towards the hide and into the reeds to the right to secret itself away once more.
Did I get a decent shot with the camera? You bet I didn't, two or three out of focus flight shots about sums it up, but as my lens isn't particularly fast I wasn't expecting anything anyway. The last couple of days visits have also provided some very good views of the Water Rail at both the Moors East hide and at the reed bed hide at the Flashes, it is being positively gregarious compared to the Bittern! However I can't grumble as this was the first time that I had decided to make the effort to see the Bittern and I succeeded. Some people have driven a fair way only to be disappointed with no views, so you see play it nonchalant and it works.
So what do you get as pictures, well a couple more small bird pics from the Flashes, this time a Great Tit and a Blue Tit but it is rather calming to just sit down quietly with the small birds flitting around and singing away around you, even if you do loose track of time as I do.
Please note that all photographs are copyright CharlieCreek.
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