Despite the murk and gloom this morning the Bittern left the island reed bed at 07:50 and landed high up in the reeds across the bay facing the boardwalk about 130m away. It stayed there until 08:45 when it finally climbed down the reeds and crept away. Light was terrible but scope views were actually okay once the cloud lifted a bit.

Poor record shot of the bird sitting in the reeds. ISO 3200, 130m and really poor light don’t make for great photos – nor the fact the bird is extremely well camouflaged!

Evening update:
At 16:55 the bird came out of the reed island, did a circuit of the the reserve then landed back in the reeds. I had been down there since 16:00, I’d like to think I didn’t miss it going in but crossing the channel takes seconds so it’s easily missed. Some even grainier flight shots below.