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TBOSG Bittern - Botarus stellaris
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Called 'hæferblæte' in Old English, the word Bittern came to English from the Old French word 'butor', itself from the Gallo-roman 'butitaurus' a portmanteau of the Latin, 'butio' and 'taurus'. The Latin for Bittern, 'botaurus', also refers to a bull and the second part of its scientific name, 'stellata' comes from the Latin for 'starry' in reference to its plumage. Some historical names for Bittern include; Barrel-maker, Bog-bull, Bog-hen, Bog-trotter and Butterbump and mostly refer to the mating call of the male. |
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Earliest: December 1931 near Hallen. Latest: January 12th 1997 at Oldbury Power Station. Highest Count: One on all dates. |
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There have been three Bitterns reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are; |
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1997: (1) |
On January 12th a presumed winter adult was flushed several times from Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station. |
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1931: (1) |
Sometime in December near Hallen a presumed winter adult was ‘obtained’. |
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1892: (1) |
Sometime in January at or near Hambrook a presumed winter adult was ‘obtained’. |