BITTERNS ARE SOME OF MY FAVOURITE BIRDS and another species that Florida is an excellent place to catch up with is American Bittern. Although there appear to be fewer around here than there were two years ago, I managed a very nice sighting this morning at Viera Wetland, of a bird that was slowly working its way through a bed of rushes. Viera, as usual, offered some great views of other waterbirds too. The birds here seem completely unconcerned by the presence of people and it is a fabulous site for photography. Unless you have a particular target in mind there is a bewildering choice of birds to point your camera lens at. Caspian and Forster's Terns fished around the lagoons and a Bald Eagle passed overhead several times. A Belted Kingfisher perched on submerged palm stumps and noisy Sandhill Cranes were prospecting potential nesting sites around the wetland. The lagoons themselves were full of waterbirds, including several Wood Storks. The surrounding beds of rushes were literally full of Yellow-rumped Warblers, along with a few Common Yellowthroats and Savannah Sparrows. Thanks to local birder and former High Wycombe resident Warren Jacobi for some great advice today!

AMERICAN BITTERN