LITTLE BITTERN nostalgia proceeds a late good NIGHT HERON

As Dave Pearce never fails to remind me, on this day in 1976 Wath Ings was graced by this male Little Bittern. And, there are still some birders around who saw it........ What would Yorkshire birders give for one now? There have been none 'twitchable' in the County since the famous pair that bred and raised three young at Potteric Carr in 1984. But the species now breeds in Somerset and could begin to spread as has been the case with Little and Great White Egrets. So keep looking. The Wath bird was only present for the day but was still successfully twitched by birders across the country. Yes, even in the pre-mobile and pager days we made sure the news got out fast. Not fast enough for everybody though and many of 'the Wath lads' retain amusing memories of 'Big Jake' of Blue Peter fame not only dipping but being unable to find his way into the village phone box. OK, he might of 'called the waders' (and released an LP to prove it) but he couldn't call his friends! So there's a little bittern nostalgia for you. And thanks to the guys who passed it down to me!

Little Bittern on the River Dearne, Wath Ings - photographers name withheld due to fear of ageism jibes!

Onto today in 2013. Firstly apologies for the late night blog but my internet has only just come back on and the important news has literally only just got out. Read on.

Morning visit to Old Moor where it remained quiet migrant-wise but did see the following: Wigeon, 2 LRP, Med' Gull adult, 5 Barn Owls (3 juvs). In the afternoon I made a visit onto Bolton Ings to look for John Seeviour et al's Spot Red but no joy. The only birds I saw there different to Alan's earlier blog were: 11 Cormorant , 61 Lapwings  and a Redshank (adult). Shortly after I had left Old Moor Ivan Martin thought he saw a/the Night Heron drop onto the Willow Pool but it was well looked for after without a sniff until tonight when it was seen feeding on Wath Ings from 21.35 to 22.00 before it flew into the Willows. It was last seen flying over the river towards Bolton Ings at 22.15. Just where has it been hiding? And what about all those other previous 'possible sightings'?