And on September 8, when cruising back from Dilham on the River Ant, she finally had the chance. Angela Nicholas was "shocked" to the see the bird(Image: Angela Nicholas)"I saw a rather large bird on the side of the river, quite stationary," she said. "As we got closer, it majestically stretched its neck up, and I knew there and then that it was a bittern. I felt so privileged to see such an amazing view of a rare reclusive bird." Robert Morgan, NWT Reserves Officer for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: "The bittern is still considered a rare bird in Britain.