One bittern, not so shy

I suppose I should start by explaining that I'm likely to be an irregular sort of a poster - I'll probably post several times in some days, and then not for a week or two. On this occasion, there's a reason for this: I've been off work for two weeks, and doing some of the things that matter most to me (playing music, and walking the beaches and heathland paths of Suffolk in search of birds, though I wasn't altogether successful in either of these endeavours, managing to record approximately three minutes of slightly hit-and-miss music, and managing to be in Suffolk at the times and places the birds chose to avoid).

ANYWAY. As the spoiler title of this post will have given away, I did manage to see a bittern for the first time (hooray), and the Images of Dusk New Album Project has finally got off the ground after nearly four years.
As you'll see from the link, seeing a bittern is quite a special thing (though experienced birdwatchers will have seen them on many occasions), and I got a particularly juicy view. Sat (appropriately and tellingly) in the newish Bittern Hide at the RSPB's Minsmere reserve, I was busy complaining that bitterns never come out to play when I'm around when one rose up from the reeds about thirty metres in front of me, flapped slowly around, then off in a roundabout route from us towards the reeds on the other side of the pool. It was in the air in front of us for a good 30 seconds (they're normally spotted dashing between cover in the chick-raising season, or heard 'booming' - listen to the sounds on here - so this was quite something).

I'd like to think that the obvious comparison with my musical endeavours (in terms of rarity, not beauty) will prove to be less than appropriate over the coming weeks as I put down the basic parts for the five or so songs I've got kicking about for Images of Dusk's forthcoming release, The Autumn Album.

Comments

[Tom Steinberg]

Glad to know that you successfully spied on your bird, and even gladder to know that you're basic in the 'music biz'. Gladdest of all, though, to see what a bold title you've given it. Succeed and you'll be a hero, fail and it'll merely look PoMo Ironic. Genius!

[Le_Poulet_Noir]

My wife recently encountered a bird with buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars.
Bittern?
No danger there. She was wearing bird repellent.