Visited Pagham (North wall) on Monday 3rd Jan and was immediately surprised on two counts. Just as I started along the wall a Bittern was heard calling (booming) quite loudly, not from the Breach pool side as I would have expected but from the harbour side itself. There were a number of birders already present and like me they immediately turned round to look in the direction of the harbour which was on a falling tide.
I've never before heard a Bittern 'booming' during the winter months and had always assumed that like a lot of birds was only to be heard during the breeding season.
Unfortunately I could not locate the bird at the time but did manage to get some reasonable views an hour or so later of it flying over the reeds / field on the pool side where I'd more expect it to be.
Just wondered if anybody else had ever heard Bittern calling during the winter ?
I've never before heard a Bittern 'booming' during the winter months and had always assumed that like a lot of birds was only to be heard during the breeding season.
Unfortunately I could not locate the bird at the time but did manage to get some reasonable views an hour or so later of it flying over the reeds / field on the pool side where I'd more expect it to be.
Just wondered if anybody else had ever heard Bittern calling during the winter ?
