Rare "booming" bird spotted in park
A rare British bird has been spotted roosting in the reedbeds of the Lee Valley.
Birdwatchers caught a glimpse of a pair of bitterns during an annual spotting event in the Lee Valley Regional Park. The bird is known to roost in the area during the winter months.
It is known for its distinctive booming call, which park experts say can sound for up to a mile and "sounds like somebody blowing into the top of a milk bottle".
Over 25,000 reeds have been planted in the area by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority in a bid to encourage the bird to breed there during the summer months.
The authority will also be part of a three-year trial exercise to boost Britain's sparrow population.
The RSPB has secured £170,000 in funding from SITA Trust to investigate whether long grass, wildflower meadows or arable flowers provide the most suitable environment for the bird, whose numbers have dropped by 68 per cent compared with 15 years ago.
The park offers regular walks and activity days. Details are available at www.leevalleypark.org.uk
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Bitterns, lesser spotted woodpeckers and declining house sparrows can all be seen in our crowded city.
This weekend sees the 30th anniversary of the Big Garden Birdwatch where we urgwe people to record the type and number of birds they can see from their windows. This gives us a snapshot of birds and tells us how they're coping.
We're expecting increased sightings of some species tempted here by our changing climate and the warmer temperatures found in London compared with rural areas.
Sightings of bitterns reflect the hard work being put in to improving our surroundings. Do let us know what else is out there. Free information's available from: www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.