Latest news with #Bitterns
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Bitterns have record breeding year at Staffordshire RSPB site
A Staffordshire nature reserve has celebrated a record-breaking breeding season for one of the rarest breeding birds in the which are part of the heron family, were once extinct in the UK but returned in the 20th Century - although by 1997 there were only 11 males recorded in the the RSPB says bitterns have thrived at their Middleton Lakes reserve in Staffordshire this year, with two males and two confirmed nests on the reserve during the summer. The charity says at least five chicks have now fledged, but due to their "secretive nature", it can be hard to confirm the exact number of fledglings. Despite the shyness, males are famous for their loud "booming" call which can be heard up to three miles away and is used to attract a mate. The UK population of booming males in 1997 was restricted to a small number of mainly coastal sites. Thanks to careful habitat management and protection at places like RSPB Middleton Lakes, the charity has been able to help give bitterns a boost and attract the birds back to the West 2021, Bitterns successfully bred in the West Midlands for the first time in more than 100 years, raising five young at Middleton. Since then, Bitterns have "remarkably" bred and fledged from the site each year. Middleton Lakes is also celebrating the numbers of chicks that have fledged this year for some of the UK's "most iconic and threatened" wading reserve has seen the highest number of wader chicks fledge since 2022, which the charity claims is down to both RSPB habitat management and favourable weather have seen ten families raise 16 chicks. Lapwings have also had a strong breeding season, with 11 pairs producing 14 young, alongside other wading bird species seeing chicks fledge too. Kate Thorpe, site manager at RSPB Middleton Lakes, said: "We are thrilled and feel incredibly rewarded to see waders and bitterns thrive this year."It shows the importance of making habitats resilient to our changing climate, and how species can bounce back with careful conservation work. We are hopeful for the future of these special birds."Middleton Lakes was the site of a gravel quarry only a few decades ago, but was transformed into a haven for wildlife when the RSPB took it over in 2007. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
13-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lakenheath Fen celebrates 30 years of nurturing wildlife
For the past three decades Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve has built a habitat for species that were once considered rare in the UK to breed and and increase in number. The wetland reserve was created in 1995 when the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) bought the site, which at the time was mainly arable fields. A mix of reed beds, marshes and woodlands now cover the 1,235-acre (500 hectares) reserve, which is encircled by Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and its 30th anniversary the BBC looks at the impact of the reserve and how it could play a part in educating the younger generation about nature. A 2023 study by The Wildlife Trusts found nearly one in six of more than 10,000 species assessed were at risk of being lost from England, Scotland and recorded there had been a 43% decline in birds and a 31% decline for amphibians and Fen is home to a plethora of different animals, including Bitterns - small, speckled, brown wetland birds which were previously rare. "When the RSPB bought the first patch of land there were only seven male [Bitterns] left in the UK," said Heidi Jones, the visitor experience officer at Lakenheath Fen."So, it's special because it provided a home for them and enabled them to breed and to find food all year round, as well as a wealth of other wetland birds." The reserve attracts thousands of visitors each year and provides a habitat for birds such as bearded tits, cranes, hobbies, a range of warblers, and whooper swans in the cranes, which arrived 2007, have since raised 24 chicks at Lakenheath Fen, which Ms Jones said was important as there were "still not very many in the UK". "They were driven to extinction by the Victorians but they have slowly started to spread again, so it's important to us that we are a habitat for those," she added."In the face of so many declines of native wildlife, it's also quite important to us that we have so many hobbies in the summer." Ms Jones said the reserve had changed "hugely" over the past 30 years, as when the organisation first bought the land it would have been a "very dry landscape", with little in the way of crops or wildlife."It's much wetter with great reed beds and there's kind of a sound to it now, instead of it just being silent. "You have birdsong everywhere, you can hear dragonflies buzzing in the summer and the landscape is alive now," she added. About 20,000 people visit Lakenheath Fen ever year and one of those visitors is 78-year-old birdwatcher, Alan Davies."We've been coming for quite a few years now and this is one of our favourite spots," he said. "It is quite peaceful, it doesn't get too busy, there's plenty to see, and we just enjoy walking around these kind of places."You're out in the countryside and the fresh air, and getting exercise - what more could you want?" According to a study by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a third of young people have never watched birds or other wildlife in their garden or a park. It has raised concerns about children's access to animals and the natural world - something Ms Jones believed needed to be addressed. "There's a baseline awareness that most people grow up with that is being lost with the generations," she said."There's a lot of fear over things like wasps and moles, so wildlife is seen only really through the lens of being a problem now. "The enjoyment, pleasure, and what it does for you is not passed on any more and that's really sad."On Sunday Lakenheath Fen will host a free open day to the public. "People can come and enjoy as much or as little as they want," said Ms Jones."We're a place for people to enjoy wildlife, connect with nature, and have some time out - it's a resource that everybody's welcome to come and enjoy." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
All of the sightings of 'rare' bird across North East skies over the years
Nature lovers and bird watchers in the North East have been delighted by several rare sightings of the elusive bittern over the years. The recent appearance of a bittern at Rainton Meadows on February 4 has reignited interest in the species, which remains a rare visitor to the region. Bitterns, members of the heron family, are known for their expert camouflage and deep, booming call. Their secretive nature and preference for large reedbeds make them difficult to spot, making each sighting a special occasion for bird enthusiasts. The Bittern at Rainton - February 4 (Image: RAY HALDANE) A Bittern at RSPB Saltholme in January this year (Image: ROGER SIMPSON) A Bittern at Rainton Meadows in July 2024 (Image: RAY HALDANE) A Bittern (Image: Gordon MacPherson) A Bittern in the North East (Image: MICHAEL THOMPSON) A Bittern in Gosforth Park nature reserve in 2019 (Image: Peter Oughton) One of the most significant bittern encounters in the North East occurred in 2012 at RSPB Saltholme in Stockton. For the first time, a male was heard booming in the area, raising hopes of a potential breeding attempt. However, despite the excitement, the bird failed to attract a mate. A decade later, in 2022, another male was recorded at RSPB Saltholme, this time accompanied by sightings. This raised fresh hopes for the species' gradual return to the region, as conservation efforts continue to support wetland habitats crucial for their survival. The latest sighting at Rainton Meadows is particularly special, as the last recorded instance of a bittern staying in the area for an extended period dates back more than a decade. Recommended reading: Work to start on new Darlington garden village with 2,000 homes in 'coming weeks' Tributes to 'beloved son' and 'friend to all', 25, after fatal crash with BMW Giant 15-metre tower play attraction being installed at County Durham park Local bird watcher Brian Howes captured striking images of a bittern in flight at the site last year, adding to the excitement around its rare appearances. While still an infrequent visitor, every bittern sighting in the North East is a cause for celebration. With ongoing conservation efforts, the presence of these magnificent birds in the region may become more common in the years to come - or so it's hoped. While we have done a round up of Bitterns - these are just some of the images we have from our Camera Club collection and not exhaustive of every image of Bitterns ever taken in the North East
