Bitterns: Britain's loudest birds are booming once again

Britain's loudest birds are "having an incredible start to the season" after making a comeback in Lancashire.

The RSPB reported ten "booming" male bitterns at Leighton Moss, Silverdale, the greatest number since the 1990s.

Just 11 of the birds - once extinct in Britain - were recorded making their distinctive sound in the whole of 1997.

Site manager Jarrod Sneyd said it was "very encouraging" to hear them so early in the year.

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