Bittern-watch event

Birdwatchers are invited to join the Lee Valley Regional Park conservation team on Sunday 16th January 2011 to look for Bitterns on site. The Lee Valley supports approximately 10% of the UK winter Bittern population and numbers have been boosted over the past few years by a concerted conservation effort at sites across the country.

The Bittern roost watch is run as part of the Hertfordshire Bittern Action Plan, with similar events taking place across the county to promote Bitterns and their conservation. This public event at Lee Valley Regional Park is free, with hot drinks and biscuits on hand to fight off the chill. A free short guided walk through River Lee Country Park will be followed by a roost watch from the Bittern Information Point overlooking Seventy Acres Lake.

Bittern, Lee Valley CP, Hertfordshire (Photo: Brian Anderson)

Dawn Richardson, Lee Valley Regional Park Conservation Officer, said: "This year we've had the addition of 3,000 Rudd into Seventy Acres Lake in River Lee Country Park to boost food stocks for fish-eating birds such as Bittern. Two floating fish refuges were also installed amongst the reedbeds to give the fish a better chance of surviving to maturity. October saw the first Bittern back in the Lee Valley and there are currently thought to be at least five throughout the Regional Park."

Bittern, Lee Valley CP, Hertfordshire (Photo: Brian Anderson)

Participants should meet at 3.30pm at Fishers Green Car Park in River Lee Country Park. Please bring binoculars and wrap up warm. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to point out the birds and hopefully the Bittern. For more information contact the Information Service on 08456 770 600.