THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
THE BIRDS OF SOUTH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
BITTERN – Botarus stellaris
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
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.
There have been three Bitterns reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1892: (1)
Sometime in January at or near Hambrook a presumed winter adult was ‘obtained’.
1931: (1)
Sometime in December near Hallen a presumed winter adult was ‘obtained’.
1997: (1)
On January 12th a presumed winter adult was flushed several times from Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station.