Eurasian Bittern; in spring, the male's 'booming' song can be heard.

Surveys of Eurasian Bitterns are carried out by noting the number of distinct male booms in a given area.

Other birds recorded are Eurasian Bittern and Grey Heron.

Occasionally Eurasian Bittern and Spotted Crake is seen by the lake.

The Eurasian Bittern, another reed bed bird, will consume rails, as will Grey Herons.

Key conservation bird species found at the site include Eurasian Bittern, European Nightjar, Nightingale and Western Marsh Harrier.

The Eurasian Bittern or Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae.

In 2011, there were 80 Avocet nests, two pairs of Eurasian Bitterns, and four pairs of Marsh Harriers, the latter successfully fledging seven young.

This area is also home to Great Cormorant, Common Spoonbill, Great Egret, White-tailed Eagle and Eurasian Bittern, among many other animals.

The key breeding species are reed bed specialists such as the Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Bittern and Bearded Reedling, and the island-nesting Avocet.

Eurasian Bittern is proposed as a rational explanation behind the mythical creature drekavac in short story Brave Mita and drekavac from the pond by Branko Ćopić.

Wildlife In the 'Birds of Ayrshire and Wigton' of 1869, the Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is recorded to have once bred at Bruntwood Loch.

Examples of these are Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Bittern, White-backed Woodpecker, Red-backed Shrike, Ortolan Bunting and Black Woodpecker.

There is a long-term plan to have an endangered species, the Eurasian Bittern, breeding here by 2014 and regular sightings of the species have already occurred, with up to three individual birds being sighted during late 2009.

Noted for its populations of Eurasian Bittern, European Nightjar and other bird species, it covers a range of coastal habitats and is protected with SSSI, SPA conservation status.

The areas with the highest densities of the rail also had the greatest numbers of three species considered at risk in Finland, the Great Reed Warbler, Eurasian Bittern and Marsh Harrier.

Also in the winters there are many different species at Getterön, for example Little Grebe, Water Rail, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Bittern, Bearded Reedling, Whooper Swan, and Smew.

Overwintering species include Brent goose, Dunlin, Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Wigeon, Merlin, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Eurasian Bittern and Twite.

Other notable bird species include Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Bittern, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier and Cetti's Warbler.

Rare species of birds include Osprey, Golden Eagle, White Stork, Black Stork, Black-throated Loon, Whooper Swan, Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, and Eurasian Bittern.

Other species include common moorhen, little grebe, Eurasian coot, great reed warbler, little bittern, mallard, common quail, white stork, black stork, Eurasian bittern, white-tailed eagle, Western marsh harrier, common kestrel, mute swan, northern lapwing, etc.

The latter would have been hoping for a close-up of one of the area's less frequent visitors, perhaps the great bittern or Temminck's stint.

Usually solitary, the Great Bittern forages in reedbeds, walking stealthily or remaining still above a body of water where prey may occur.

Great Bittern: (rare)

Up to 30% of the UK's breeding population of Great Bittern are to be found at Minsmere.

Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)

It is a large, chunky, brown bird, very similar to the Eurasian Great Bittern, 'Botaurus stellaris'.

The Common Crane and Great Bittern were exterminated by hunters and the draining of marshes in the 18th century.

Other animals include great bittern, reed warbler, redshank, greenshank, black stork, crane, teal, garganey and little stint.

The protagonist, a courageous village boy named Mita, investigates and captures the drekavac, which turns out to be a Great Bittern, a bird very rare for the area.

The Eurasian Bittern or Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae.

Other wild birds include great bittern, pintail, lapwing, water rail, ring-necked parakeet, sparrowhawk, sand martin, kingfisher, little grebe and great crested grebe.

Larger birds include Grey Heron, Great Cormorant, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Great Bittern.

The Wormer- en Jisperveld contains national important populations of nesting birds as the Great Bittern, Ruff, Godwit, Gadwall and Shoveler.

The rare birds spotted were: the Shrenck's Bittern, Great Bittern, Gadwall, Coot, Philippine Mallard or ducks, and Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia).

Other animals include Great Bittern, Reed Warbler, Common Redshank, Greenshank, Black Stork, Common Crane, Common Teal,Garganey and Little Stint.

Examples are Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Great Bittern, Little Bittern, Pygmy Cormorant and Ferruginous Duck.

The canal provides habitats for wetland birds such as the bittern (Botaurus stellaris).

It is a large, chunky, brown bird, very similar to the Eurasian Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), though slightly smaller.

Wildlife In the 'Birds of Ayrshire and Wigton' of 1869, the Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is recorded to have once bred at Bruntwood Loch.