American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus (Rackett, 1813) (28, 11)

Photo © USFWS Midwest Region from Midwest Region, United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

STATUS

Alaska to Mexico. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

Spring arrival here is during April and May and between September and November in the autumn.

Just four individuals have been found during the 21st century making it quite a rarity here.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1804 Dorset River Frome, Puddletown, immature, shot, autumn.

(Montagu, 1813; Fleming, 1828; Selby, 1833; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1845; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Prendergast & Boys, 1983).

2). 1826 Essex Wendens Ambo, shot, spring, photo, now at Saffron Walden Museum (Acc. No. NB135).

("The Saffron Walden Gazette" 1892; N. Green, British Birds 95: 93, plate 34; BOURC (2004), Ibis 146: 192-195; Wood, 2007).

3). 1829 Devon River Erme, Mothecombe, near Plymouth, shot, 22nd December.

(E. Moore, Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History 1: 320; Yarrell, 1845; Newman, 1866; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Witherby, 1920-24; Moore, 1969; Tyler, 2010).

4). 1844 Dumfries & Galloway Dinwiddie Moors, near Jardine Hall, Dumfriesshire, killed, mid-October.

(Yarrell, 1845; W. Thompson, Annals & Magazine of Natural History 17: 94; Yarrell, 1856; Gray, 1871; Yarrell, 1871-85; Gladstone, 1910; H. S. Gladstone, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 70-74; Eds., British Birds 4: 31; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

5). 1845 Lancashire & North Merseyside Near Fleetwood, male, shot, about 8th December.

(J. Cooper, Zoologist 1846: 1248; Newman, 1866; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Witherby, 1920-24; Oakes, 1953; Spencer, 1973; White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008).

6). 1851 Anglesey Locality unknown, shot, December.

(J. H. Gurney, Field 20th Jan., 1866: 66; J. H. Gurney, Zoologist 1866: 145; J. H. Gurney, Field 21st Jan., 1871: 38; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Forrest, 1907; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994; Jones & Whalley, 2004).

7). 1854 North-East Scotland Balgownie Links, near Bridge of Don, Aberdeenshire, female, shot, November, now at University Museum, Aberdeen.

(Gray, 1871; Yarrell, 1871-85; H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 8: 367; Sim, 1903; H. S. Gladstone, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 70-74; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Phillips, 1997; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

8). 1862 Caithness Latheronwheel, killed, 3rd November, now at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GLAMG.Z.1982.145.22).

("M.A.S." Field 6 Dec., 1862: 515; J. A. Smith, Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh 3: 182; Gray, 1871; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1887; H. S. Gladstone, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 70-74; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007; C. J. McInerny & R. Sutcliffe, Scottish Birds 40: 245-246, plate 164).

9). 1867 Sussex Pevensey, obtained, 26th November.

(J. Dutton, Zoologist 1868: 1098; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Borrer, 1891; Witherby, 1920-24; Walpole-Bond, 1938; James, 1996).

10). 1871 Yorkshire Kells Springs, Slingsby Carrs, near Malton, shot, 4th December.

(Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Yarrell, 1871-85; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

11). 1872 Pembrokeshire St David's, killed, October.

(Greenaway, Land And Water 1872; C. Smith, Zoologist 1883: 341; Yarrell, 1871-85; Mathew, 1894; Witherby, 1920-24; Lockley, 1949; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

12). 1873 Dumfries & Galloway Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire, shot, 25th March.

(W. Elliot, History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 7: 525; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1876: 4929; Yarrell, 1871-85; Gladstone, 1910; H. S. Gladstone, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 70-74; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

13). 1873 Cornwall Tresamble, Gwennap, shot, 4th November.

(J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 131; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).

14). 1875 Argyll Islay, shot, late October.

(J. Lumsden, jun., Field 22nd Jan., 1876: 84; Anon., Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow 3: 43-44; J. Lumsden, jun., Zoologist 1876: 4801; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1892; H. S. Gladstone, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 70-74; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

15). 1875 Devon Near Parracombe, first-winter male, killed, late October.

(J. Gatcombe, Zoologist 1875: 4719; M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1875: 4720; J. Rowe, Field 20th Nov., 1875: 561; M. A. Mathew, Field 4th Dec., 1875: 623; Yarrell, 1871-85; Moore, 1969; Tyler, 2010).

16). 1876 Hampshire Woodside, Lymington, shot, January, now at Hampshire Cultural Trust, Chilcomb House, Winchester.

(Kelsall & Munn, 1905; Clark & Eyre, 1993; Clark, 2022).

17). 1876 Hampshire Cadnam, New Forest, shot, February, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1924Z18.3986).

(E. Bidwell, Field 10th Mar., 1877: 276; Yarrell, 1871-85; A. P. Morres, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine 21: 219-220; Kelsall & Munn, 1905; Clark & Eyre, 1993; Watson, 2010).

18). 1882 Yorkshire Harlsey Hall, Welbury, near Northallerton, female, killed, 27th October.

(W. E. Clarke & W. D. Roebuck, Naturalist 9: 169; C. D. Wolstenholme, Zoologist 1883: 128; J. Backhouse, jnr., Zoologist 1883: 180; W. E. Clarke & W. D. Roebuck, Zoologist 1884: 177; Yarrell, 1871-85; W. E. Clarke, Naturalist 10: 177; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

19). 1883 Sussex Amberley Wild Brooks, female, shot, 30th November, now at Booth Museum, Brighton (BoMNH 204081).

(W. B. Ellis, Field 8th Dec., 1883: 799; W. Borrer, Zoologist 1884: 68; Yarrell, 1871-85; Borrer, 1891; Booth, 1901; Walpole-Bond, 1938; James, 1996).

20). 1886 Bedfordshire Elstow, female, shot, 13th November, now at Bedford Museum.

(Steele-Elliott, 1901; Trodd & Kramer, 1991).

21). 1898 Somerset Long Sutton, winter.

(Cage Birds, 18th February, 1902; Palmer & Ballance, 1968; Somerset Ornithologists' Club, 1988; Ballance, 2006).

22). 1903 Isles of Scilly Great Pool, Bryher, caught, 15th October, lived for three years in Tresco Abbey, photo, now at the Isles of Scilly Museum.

(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 14: 32; J. Clark & F. R. Rodd, Zoologist 1906: 302; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 131; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 349; Penhallurick, 1969; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 22).

23). 1905 Pembrokeshire Trewellwell, near Dale, male, shot, 11th December, now at National Museum of Wales, Cardiff (Z.1932.517.046).

(Lockley, 1949; Donovan & Rees, 1994; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

24). 1906 Cornwall Porthcurno, male, killed, 12th November.

(J. Clark, Zoologist 1907: 285; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 132; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 349; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).

25). 1927 Cornwall Goss Moor, near Bodmin, shot, 28th November.

(F. W. Frohawk, Field 16th Feb., 1928: 256; B. H. Ryves, Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society Report 1928; Eds., British Birds 22: 68, 117; Ryves, 1948; Penhallurick, 1969).

26). 1928 Somerset Ten Acre Common, near Catcott, remains only, 26th May, now at Bristol City Museum.

(F. L. Blathwayt, Report on Somerset Birds 1928: 8; S. Lewis, British Birds 23: 132; Palmer & Ballance, 1968; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; Ballance, 2006).

27). 1932 Outer Hebrides Benbecula, adult male, shot, 27th December.

(C. G. Bird, Scottish Naturalist 53: 92; Eds., British Birds 26: 313; Cunningham, 1983; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

28). 1946 Pembrokeshire Ramsey Island, seen, 19th October.

(J. L. Davies & R. M. Lockley, British Birds 40: 184-185; Lockley, 1949; Donovan & Rees, 1994; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

29). 1962 Caernarfonshire Bardsey, 12th to 15th September, when found dying, now at National Museum of Wales, Cardiff (Z.1964.317).

(D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 57: 278).

30). 1977 Cornwall Marazion Marsh, 7th to 25th September, moved to St Erth, 18th to 19th September.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 509).

31). 1980 Dorset Tincleton, found shot, 12th November, photo, now at County Museum, Dorchester.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 75: 485; Dorset Bird Report 1981: photo).

32). 1981 Gwent Magor Marsh, Monmouthshire, 29th October to 7th January 1982, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 75: 485, plates 34 & 35; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 479; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 78: 532, plate 49; Birding World 3 (10): 353, photo; Birding Scotland 5: plate 135; Saunders, 1991: 104, photo; British Birds 93: plate 81; Venables et al., 2008: photo).

33). 1981 Clyde Glen Moss, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, 4th November to 9th January 1982, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 75: 485; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 479; D. L. Clugston, Birding Scotland 5 (4): 183-184, plate 135).

34). 1991 Lancashire & North Merseyside Marton Mere, Blackpool, adult, 24th January to 12th May, photo.

(P. Holt, Birding World 4 (2): 49-51, photo; British Birds 84: plates 173 & 176; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 85: 510; White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008: photo).

35). 1999 Cornwall Camel Estuary, 13th to 17th May, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 517; Birds in Cornwall 1999: photo).

36). 2008 Pembrokeshire St David's Airfield, remains found, 30th November, photo.

(R. Dobbins, Birdwatch Issue 200, Feb., 2009: 61; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 541; R. Dobbins, Welsh Birds 6: 98, photo; J. Green, R. Pritchard & S. Tyler, Welsh Bird Report 22: 135).

37). 2010 Cornwall Trewey Common, 26th to 31st October, photo; presumed same, Walmsley Sanctuary, 1st to 6th November, photo.

(Birding World 23 (10): 410, photo; British Birds 103: plate 400; Birding World 23 (11): 456, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 104: 568, plate 296; Birds in Cornwall 2010: photo).

38). 2018 Suffolk Carlton Marshes, 2CY+, male, in song, 7th April to 16th May, photo.

(British Birds 111: plate 201; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 569, plate 310; Suffolk Birds 2018: photo).

39). 2019 Outer Hebrides Loch Stiapavat, Lewis, 2CY+, 10th to 12th May.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 594).