One of the UK's rarest birds spotted on Norfolk Broads
A photographer has captured spectacular images of one of the UK's rarest birds on the Norfolk Broads.
Lynne Warner, a volunteer photographer for the Broads Authority, spotted the bittern at Hickling Broad.
Bitterns are often hard to spot as they blend into the reeds with their camouflaged plumage (Image: Lynne Warner)
The birds can remain motionless for hours to avoid detection (Image: Lynne Warner)
After battling long COVID for the past five years which has "severely impacted" Lynne's life, any opportunity to get out is cherished.
"It really made my day to have a brief sighting as it is an amazing moment when you see one clearly," she said. "I was in the hide for three hours so my patience paid off.
Lynn was positioned in the hide for three hours to catch sight of the rare bird (Image: Lynne Warner)
They fly with retracted necks, unlike cranes (Image: Lynne Warner)
"It appeared suddenly from the reeds to the right and flew low over the pool towards the left side where a male had boomed earlier."
READ MORE: 'Beautiful' images capture kingfisher at nature reserve
The bittern is often hard to spot as it spends most of its time camouflaged within the reedbeds.
It has been a record-breaking year for bittern sightings in the country (Image: Lynne Warner)
The bird was seen crossing the pond before hiding in the reeds (Image: Lynne Warner)
With the ability to stand motionless for long periods to avoid detection, patience is key to spot one of the UK's rarest birds.
It has been another record-breaking year for the bird with 283 booming males recorded in the latest results from the RSPB and Natural England - the biggest jump since monitoring began in 1990.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Removal of beach sea defences given go-ahead
Work to remove sea defences from a Dorset beach is due to begin in September after the scheme to "allow nature to take its course" received planning consent. The National Trust is proposing "managed realignment" followed by "no intervention" at Middle Beach, Studland, in response to climate change and coastal erosion. It said the stone gabions were "collapsing and a risk to the public" and their removal would result in a more natural beach within two years. Dorset Council approved the application after receiving no objections from Natural England, conservation and environment officers and Studland Parish Council. The site, between South Beach and Knoll Beach, is next to a 120-space car park. Bracken and sycamore saplings in a neighbouring area will also be removed as part of wider works to create areas of open sand for invertebrate species, breeding birds and reptiles, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The agent, on behalf of the trust, said: "Once the defences are removed, the shoreline will readjust quite rapidly to a natural alignment, in line with the shoreline management plan, and ensuring the beach future." The trust said the works would result in a natural cove and an enhanced wildlife habitat for sand lizards and birds. Work will also be timed to "minimise the impact on beachgoers, and avoid disturbing sand lizards during the egg-laying period". It said the cafe, toilets and beach would remain open. A beach cafe which operated at the site for more than 70 years was demolished by the National Trust in 2023 due to erosion, with a replacement opened in the car park. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Sea defences could be removed at beauty spot Cafe on eroding beach closes ahead of demolition Beach cafe set to be torn down in New Year National Trust Dorset Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Five years later, some COVID-era graduation traditions live on
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — High school graduations were among the hundreds of practices adjusted in the wake of COVID-19, and five years later, some still don't look the same. In 2020, many districts turned to virtual ceremonies or heavily restricted in-person events. Five years out, high school seniors are able to enjoy a more classic ceremony. However, some central Ohio school districts continued select COVID-era practices, turning adaptations into new traditions. See previous coverage of 2020 adaptive graduations in the video player above. Grandview Heights Superintendent Andy Culp said in 2020, the district hung banners of the graduating class along a fence on Grandview Avenue. Hayley Head, Grandview Heights' executive assistant to the superintendent, said the tradition has continued since. Initially parent-driven, Head said the banners are hung the weeks around graduation to celebrate seniors. Big Lots reopening fourth wave of revived Ohio stores 'Five years later, this has become one of the many traditions that celebrate our graduating seniors and it is also a much anticipated community tradition as well,' Head said. Bexley City Schools also continues to hang senior banners along Main Street post-COVID, as does Whitehall on Yearling Road. Whitehall Schools Director of Communications Amanda Isenberg said the district prints individual banners for each senior. 'It has become a visible way to celebrate our graduates and their hard work,' Isenberg said. Larger districts were less likely to maintain COVID-era traditions. New Albany-Plain Local Schools spokesperson Patrick Gallaway said district bus drivers delivered yard signs for each graduate in 2020, but with 441 graduates this year alone, it was not cost-effective to continue it. 'The one thing we still do is a slide show that we run on the jumbotron at Huntington Park before the ceremony,' Gallaway said. 'It is definitely a labor of love.' Gallaway said parents have also continued making an Instagram account each year since 2020 to celebrate the graduating class. The account is not associated with the school, but posts photos of graduates and their after-high school plans. Where to find specials Friday for National Donut Day New Albany-Plain is one of many larger districts that did not maintain new traditions, but have leaned into the technological or logistical adjustments from COVID. Hilliard and South-Western City Schools representatives both said commencement is almost entirely back to pre-COVID operations, but both schools now offer video formats for people who cannot attend in person. South-Western makes graduation videos available online after, and Hilliard livestreams the event. Pickerington spokesperson Jacqueline Bryant said the district first implemented a ticketing system for graduation in 2020. The district continues to use ticketing, although students now receive eight tickets each instead of the two they had in 2020. Olentangy spokesperson Amanda Beeman said the district adapted in 2020 and 2021, but has since gone back to its many pre-COVID traditions. She said with multiple high schools, anything else would be tricky. Gahanna-Jefferson, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Canal Winchester and Westerville also told NBC4 they have fully reverted back to pre-pandemic celebrations. 'We had a parade instead of a graduation ceremony in 2020. We tried doing both a ceremony and a parade in 2021, but it turned out to be too much for families to juggle,' Upper Arlington spokesperson Karen Truett said. 'We've been back to 'normal' for the past several years.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Campaign to revive ‘neglected' Grove Park allotments which played role in WWII
A campaign to revive allotments in Grove Park, with community history dating back over 100 years, has been launched with the goal to raise £12,500. Baring Road Allotments in Grove Park were first established in 1913 as a Co-Operative Land Club and managed by the Lee and District Land Club. Spanning over 11 decades, these historic allotments played a key role during WWII as part of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign, providing food to local residents. But over the years these allotments – described as an 'amazing community asset' – have become uncultivated and neglected, with the Covid-19 pandemic playing a major role in their decline. These historic allotments played a key role during WWII as part of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign. (Image: Donna Ford) A campaign, established by the allotment's new committee Wild Rangers, could see the allotments transformed to their former glory. The non-profit organisation, which is dedicated to enhancing underused green spaces, is set to launch its Aviva Crowdfunding Campaign with a £12,500 goal fundraiser, with an Open Day and Plant Sale set to take place this Saturday (June 7) between 12pm and 2pm. Kay, founder of Wild Rangers, said: 'It's disappointing to see the neglect of such an amazing community asset. Growing together has so many benefits for mental wellbeing; helps combat social isolation; improves physical health; and helps to strengthen local communities.' A campaign could see the allotments transformed to their former glory. (Image: Donna Ford) The revitalisation of the allotments are part of a wider community-led imitative to establish The Railway Children Urban National Park to safeguard Grove Park's greenspace, which is believed to have been the inspiration for E. Nesbit's The Railway Children. Work has already commenced to clear the allotments, with work led by staff and volunteers, however the fundraiser is hoped to raise needed funds to help the organisation tackle larger capacity jobs to get the allotments up and running again. The reduction of local allotments has been impacting communities across the UK over the last decade, as research conducted by Sheffield University revealed that allotment land has decreased by over half (65 per cent) by 2016. The revitalisation of the allotments are part of a wider community-led imitative to establish The Railway Children Urban National Park. (Image: Donna Ford) However, these spaces can be vital for local communities in a bid to help tackle food poverty, with Lewisham Council passing the 'Right to Food Borough' motion committing to helping communities in Lewisham have more access to healthy and sustainable food. Kay explained: 'Allotments up and down the country are often under-appreciated. This despite a growing demand and long waiting lists. 'With new fresh community-led energy now getting behind bringing this vital space back to life, we can enable many more people enjoy the benefits as the revived plots can be taken up by new tenants. 'We also hope we can raise enough funds to also deliver a community garden within the allotment.'
