Great Bittern at Bence Máté’s hides

Bence Máté's hides sit within a network of carefully sited photographic locations across southern Hungary, where the Pannonian Basin's fishponds meet reedbeds & lowland farmland, exactly the kind of wetland mosaic where a Great Bittern will slip quietly through cover. February is a favourable time to visit, as the reduced vegetation of winter improves the odds of a clear view from the hides. Patience is essential here, since the species is naturally secretive & relies on stillness & dense reeds to stay hidden. Photographers joining the Hungarian Winter Wildlife holiday can make use of these purpose-built hides to wait quietly for this elusive bird to emerge along the water's edge.