Britain’s loudest bird, once extinct in the UK, has enjoyed its best year since records began, according to a new survey by the RSPB and Natural England. The bittern, a threatened relative of the more familiar grey heron, has seen its population rise over the last 15 years from 11 males in 1997 to 104 this year. Last year the survey revealed 87 males. 82 males were … [Read more...] about Bittern numbers recovering according to research
Grey Heron
Heron fishing as river thaws
Our local Heron grabs a chance to feed as the icy waters of the Eden start to flow again. Over four weeks of below freezing temperatures resulted in our rivers freezing over for the first time in many years. Waterside wildlife such as this heron will have struggled to feed during this time, so the the last 24 hours of thaw have been a welcome break for birds and … [Read more...] about Heron fishing as river thaws