The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I'm very impressed with the latest 2013 annual bird report (which I picked up at the AGM on Tuesday) - it maintains the high standard of previous years and the photographs are excellent.

Disappointing that nightingales and bitterns don't seem to have made any breeding headway in the
county - perhaps the 2014 report will carry better news.

Re the latter, can anyone advise if the relative success of marsh harriers is a problem in the north of the county?

Are bitterns reluctant to breed in locations where harriers have strongholds?Or are human
disturbance/ deficiencies in habitat (eg water quality) likely to be more signficant factors?

Is there much realistic prospect of more bitterns breeding in Lincs in coming years?

Jim
Some years ago a site I monitored held breeding Bittern and Marsh harrier both successfully reared young and the nests were c 80m apart,
I have heard of bitterns taking marsh harrier eggs or young but cannot validate that.

regards John

Thanks for that info, John

Interesting that the two species can co-exist - but that predation may also be an option for both.

Jim