56



Mr. J. H. Gurney,



BREEDING OF THE BITTERN IN

NORFOLK,


By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S.


(Reprinted from 1 The Zoologist.’)


The summer of 1911 was terrible, being the hottest and most

rainless summer experienced in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk

since 1868 (see Weather Report, by A. W. Preston, F.R.Met.Soc.)

In many places fields of barley took fire by the sparks emitted from

adjacent lines of railway. July 31st was supposed to have been the

hottest July day for fifty-two years, and on August 9th my thermometer

stood at 96° in the shade. Young Partridges did not suffer nearly

so much as many people, who are unaware how little moisture

these birds require, expected, and, contrary to anticipation, it proved

an extraordinarily good year for wild Pheasants.


The great event of 1911 was the breeding of the Bittern,

possibly due to the drying up of some of the Dutch swamps by the

great heat. Miss Turner has already published an admirable

account of the way in which she found the young one (cf. 1 British

Birds ’ and ‘ Country Life ’ (December 2nd, 1911)), but I can add a

few particulars to this record. The last nidification of a Bittern in

Norfolk, if not in England, was in 1886, when a young one was

obtained. Although nearly full-grown, there was no doubt about its

being home-bred, for there was still down upon it.


May 8th. — This was really a summer’s day, and perfect or

birds’-nesting. Accordingly, it was with no small pleasure that Mr.

Gerard Gurney and I directed our steps, by invitation, to one of the

smaller Broads, where Redshanks and Reed-Buntings were soon

seen, but on this occasion no Grasshopper-Warblers, although it is a

favourite place for them, and some had been recently heard. Flitting

among the reed-tops were a good many Bearded Tits, which the

absence of wind had tempted up from their recesses. Although

the “Reed Pheasant” no longer suffers from the rapacity of dealers,

the gradual growing up of our Broads must more and more limit its

area of distribution. A Coot’s nest was presently found, containing

two eggs and four newly-hatched young ones, whose orange heads

were quite resplendent among the reeds. These active mites speedily



