Rare bird spotted over skies of the region that sets hope for future sightings
Captured on camera by Steve Raine, a member of the Northern Echo Camera Club, the images, taken in late June, show the shy, elusive bird gliding low over a reedbed, its streaked plumage blending effortlessly with the wetland vegetation—a stunning and rare sighting for the region.
This latest appearance follows several other reported sightings in County Durham and across the wider North East, including at Rainton Meadows, RSPB Saltholme, and Weardale, suggesting that the once-vanishing bittern may be quietly staging a comeback in the region's revitalised wetlands.
The bittern (Botaurus stellaris), a secretive member of the heron family, is one of the UK's most elusive birds.
It is notorious for its pale brown, streaked plumage, which allows it to remain nearly invisible among the reeds.
Adding to its mystique is its trademark booming call, a deep foghorn-like sound made by males during the breeding season, audible up to two miles away, mostly at night.
While present year-round, sightings remain uncommon due to the bird's shy nature and preference for dense reedbeds.
When it does emerge, often at dawn or dusk, it offers a moment of wonder for those lucky enough to witness it.
The bittern was once on the brink of extinction in Britain, with the species almost wiped out by habitat loss and hunting in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
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By 1997, the UK population had dropped to just 11 males.
Thanks to decades of conservation, including reedbed restoration and legal protections, bittern numbers have slowly begun to recover.
Now classified as:
Amber-listed on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern list
A Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework
Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981
Bitterns in the North: A Trail of Hope
This year has seen a string of rare sightings across North East England, marking a promising trend:
Rainton Meadows (February 4): Photographed by Ray Haldane, a sighting hailed as the first extended stay in over a decade
RSPB Saltholme (2012 & 2022): A booming male was heard, although earlier attempts to attract a mate were unsuccessful
Weardale: Noted for its rich mix of moorland and wetland habitats, ideal for bitterns
North Yorkshire (June): Latest sighting by Steve Raine adds to regional optimism
These sightings, while still rare, suggest that ongoing habitat protection efforts across the North are bearing fruit, slowly building conditions where bitterns can feed, nest, and possibly breed.
Spotting a Bittern: What to Look For
Size: 70–80 cm in length with a wingspan of 1.3 metres
Appearance: Stocky heron with streaked beige, brown, and black plumage
Behaviour: Stands motionless for long periods, mimicking reed stems
Best Times: Dawn or dusk in spring and summer when they are most active
Why It Matters
Conservation groups like the Durham Wildlife Trust and RSPB encourage the public to:
Report sightings responsibly
Avoid disturbing sensitive habitats
Support wetland protection initiatives
Steve Raine's photographs from North Yorkshire join a growing body of evidence that the bittern is not just a relic of the past, but a living success story of British conservation.
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