An American bittern, a wading bird which breeds in Canada and the northern and central parts of the United States and winters in the US Golf Coast states, has been seen at the site for the past three days (Saturday, Sunday and Monday April 8 and April 9).

The presence of the bittern, the first recorded sighting in East Anglia and around only the 8th nationally, has seen wildlife lovers flock to the reserve near Lowestoft.

On Sunday around 600 visitors, travelling from as far as Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District, were treated to views of this solitary hunter on Share Marsh – part of the land the Trust is currently fundraising to buy.

Matt Gooch, Broads Warden, said the presence of the bittern was a glimpse of the wet, wild world the Trust is trying to create.

“The American bittern is a truly beautiful bird and having it on the reserve is just fantastic. I was on the reserve from 4.15am on Sunday morning and didn’t leave until 9pm as there were so many people hoping to see it.

“The sense of excitement was, and still is, incredible and the fact that the bittern has been mostly seen on the land we are trying so hard to secure shows just how important our vision to create a landscape-scale reserve is.”

Anyone wishing to see the American bittern should park at the reserve or the sign-posted overflow and then walk north-east along the vehicle track towards the river.

If you are visiting please consider donating to our Broads appeal either online on at the reserve.