Andy Rouse / Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria, June. This is a crop of 1637244. Highly honoured in the Bird Category of the Nature's Best Photography Competition 2019.

Andy Rouse / Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria, June.

Bence Mate / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) hunting from reed, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary, June.

Bence Mate / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) flying, splashing water behind, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. June.

Bence Mate / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) watching Great warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) with prey, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Little bittern, male in reeds {Ixobrychus minutus} Samos, Greece.

Andy Rouse / Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) hunting in reeds, Bulgaria. Horizontal version of 01609394. Highly honoured in the Bird Category of the Nature's Best Photography Competition 2019.

Hermann Brehm / Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) Germany, May.

Hermann Brehm / Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) Germany, May.

Andy Rouse / Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria, June.

Andy Rouse / Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria, June.

Andy Rouse / Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria, June.

Andy Rouse / Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria, June.

Andy Rouse / Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria, June.

Andy Rouse / RF - Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria

Andy Rouse / RF - Little bittern, (Ixobrychus minutus), hunting in reeds, Bulgaria

Mike Read / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) female standing on stem of Bulrush (Typha latifoli) Quinta do Lago, Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, Algarve, Portugal, February.

Sylvain Cordier / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), male fishing, Lake Kerkini, Greece

Sylvain Cordier / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), male fishing in flooded forest, Lake Kerkini, Greece

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) amidst reeds, Danube delta rewilding area, Romania, June

Michel Poinsignon / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) perched on branch in reeds, Remerschen, Luxembourg, June.

Ann & Steve Toon / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Intaka Island wetland centre, Cape Town, South Africa, February

Robin Chittenden / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) Lesvos, Lesbos, Greece, April

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Little bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} adult with fish, Oman, June

Michel Poinsignon / Little bittern immature (Ixobrychus minutus) flying, Lorraine, France

Michel Poinsignon / Little bittern immature (Ixobrychus minutus) fishing, Lorraine, France

Michel Poinsignon / Little bittern chick (Ixobrychus minutus) perched on branch calling, Lorraine, France

Michel Poinsignon / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) perched amongst reeds, Lorraine, France

Michel Poinsignon / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) hidden amongst reeds, Lorraine, France

Rolf Nussbaumer / Female Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) hunting in wetland, Samos, Greek Island, Greece. May 2000

Jose B. Ruiz / Little bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} Alicante, Spain

George McCarthy / Little Bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} with frog prey, Lesvos, Greece

George McCarthy / Little Bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} with aquatic prey, Lesvos, Greece

George McCarthy / Little Bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} crossing river, Lesvos, Greece

George McCarthy / Little Bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} Lesvos, Greece

Artur Tabor / Little Bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} pair on nest, Bierbrzanski NP, Poland

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Little Bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} adult with fish in beak, Khor Swali, Oman.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Immature Little bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} walking along Lily pads, Muscat, Oman.

Artur Tabor / Little bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} with chicks, Poland.

Artur Tabor / Little bittern regurgitating fish for chicks {Ixobrychus minutus} Poland

Paul Hobson / Little bittern male {Ixobrychus minutus} Lesvos, Greece

Angelo Gandolfi / Little bittern male with chicks River Po, Italy {Ixobrychus minutus}

Angelo Gandolfi / Little bittern female +and chick beak holding, begging food. River Po, Italy {Ixobrychus minutus}

Angelo Gandolfi / Little bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} with chicks showing alarm behaviour. River Po, Italy

Angelo Gandolfi / Little bittern chicks in nest. River Po, Italy {Ixobrychus minutus}

Angelo Gandolfi / Little bittern chicks alarm behaviour. River Po, Italy {Ixobrychus minutus} c

David Kjaer / Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) female. Greece, Europe

David Kjaer / Little bittern {Ixobrychus minutus} female at water's edge, Lesbos, Greece