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 and 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 and relies on stillness and 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.