We went to Old Moor today, an RSPB reserve about fifty miles from home. We went there last year and took so many photographs it took not one, but two posts to publish them all.
Today wasn’t quite so prolific in the photography line.
The day started early when I nipped down to the laundrette to do the washing I’ve been avoiding for the last two weeks, then we had bacon sandwiches and set off.
The lady who checked our cards told us that one of the paths was blocked off to protect the nesting Bitterns. That was the path we had wanted to check out as we hadn’t done it last time. However, as compensation she did tell us there was a Glossy Ibis on the wader scrape.
On the way round we heard the Bittern booming, which is how it always seems to be. I’ve heard Bitterns booming many times, but never actually seen one. They are very good at remaining hidden.
This is symbolic of my life.
However, I did see the Ibis. We walked into the hide, looked out and immediately saw a dark bird prodding at a mud bank. After about twenty minutes it annoyed a nesting Coot, which chased it off. It then lurked in a reed bed. According to one of the other watchers it had spent most of the morning lurking in the reeds and had only showed itself for about half an hour so we were very lucky.
On a dull day a Glossy Ibis is not an impressive bird, looking a bit like a dark curlew. On the other hand it’s better to see a dull Ibis than no Ibis at all.
You can probably guess how we finished the visit by studying the title.
There will be photographs later…
And a description of two prize-winning Senior Moments…
I’ve never seen a Bittern either, even though I live about a mile from an RSPB reserve which has them. There was a Glossy Ibis there last year. I didn’t see that either. I have seen the Bearded Tits and the Otters which also eluded me for many years.
It’s good when you do see them isn’t it? 🙂
Certainly is. Almost makes the waiting seem worth while.
It’s character forming, isn’t it?
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Bacon sandwiches, a glossy ibis, a cream tea. Sounds like a good day to me. Looking forward to the pictures.
I’ll get on with it in a few minutes. 🙂
Glad you saw the ibis. I will refrain from commenting on Bearded Tits 🙂
That is probably just as well…
🙂
They are now called Bearded Reedlings, which is more accurate but not as funny for those of us with juvenile senses of humour.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearded_reedling
🙂
Thirty years birdwatching and I’ve seen a bittern just twice. They’re supposed to be easier to see in winter when the vegetation is less and there are continental bitterns in the country. The latter tend to be a lot less inhibited than the English ones and occasionally come out and walk around in the open.
I’ll give that a try. It took years of hearing Bearded Tits before I saw them! 🙂
I can picture the Coot chasing off the lurking Ibis. 🙂
🙂 Coots are bad tempered at the bestof times.
Once bittern, twice shy?
A pun so good it nearly hurts! 🙂