Tim writes: I had some good fortune photographing Bitterns at Old Moor RSPB reserve in South Yorkshire recently. A brood of three nearly-fledged youngsters were clambering about in the reeds waiting for their mum to return with a crop full of fish. The photos show the adult female setting off on a foraging flight, plus two of the three youngsters. This left bird was unbelievably high in the reeds, so high you’d expect the reeds to break, but it was clasping large clumps of reed stems with its long claws for support. You can see some fluffy down on the crown identifying these as youngsters.
