Grey heron
By Charlotte Owen
WildCall Officer
We haven’t had much of a winter so far this year, with the general experience being grey and wet rather than crisp and white. Such unseasonably mild weather can be confusing for wildlife and play havoc with natural rhythms, resulting in unexpected sights like a Blackbird nest complete with peeping chicks in the middle of January. While these early birds may struggle to catch enough worms and other insect prey to feed their hungry brood, there are others who deliberately get started well ahead of the rest.
It’s not unusual for Grey Herons to begin nesting in February, and as one of our largest birds their activity can be hard to miss. They are an imposing sight on the riverbank, standing tall and motionless at the water’s edge as they wait with seemingly endless patience for a potential meal to pass by. A Heron in flight really demands attention, its sheer bulk and almost prehistoric silhouette surprisingly agile once airborne, and at this time of year they are heading to the treetops.
Herons return to the same communal nest sites year after year, generation after generation. One of Britain’s biggest heronries (Northward Hill in Kent) is home to more than 100 breeding pairs but most colonies are considerably smaller. Rather than start from scratch each year, herons re-use an existing nest by adding to its twiggy bulk with annual renovations. Over time, a flimsy first-year platform of sticks is transformed into an extravagant, towering basket which, though ungainly, forms the perfect cradle for a clutch of greenish-blue eggs.
But before the serious business of nest-building can begin, herons must first engage in an elaborate courtship ritual. This is quite the song and dance, with males stretching their necks skyward, bill upright and head plumes in full flow, in their best effort to attract a female. Their yelping calls are interspersed with bill snapping and twig shaking, and they will regularly take off to fly circuits overhead before alighting to perform a series of mighty wingbeats. When a female shows interest, the pair will eventually combine these moves into a coordinated dance to strengthen their bond and prepare for parenthood.
Comments
Where are the Herons nesting please in West Sussex.
Thanks
27 Feb 2020 14:40:00
Never knew about heron courtships, how lovely. I live near Cuckmere Haven in East Sussex and will watch out for their displays.
27 Feb 2020 16:53:00
We have a Heronry near here @ Ardingly reservoir
27 Feb 2020 17:31:00
Is there anything g we can do to encourage herons to nest or will they only ever return to an established site?
27 Feb 2020 18:17:00
Had one nest high in Scots Pine last year, 3 chicks fledged early July. A lot of courtship ritual at the moment and possibility of second pair , fascinating to watch from garden and kitchen window, Cashel, Co. Tipperary !
Welcome to anybody interested in viewing !
27 Feb 2020 19:04:00
I live in felpham, west Sussex and there is a beautiful walkthrough to Barnham called Hoe Lane. There is a very large tree which is protected by the Ornithological Society which has 8/10 pairs of herons in the treetops which come back year after year to mate and raise youngsters and if you can ever get the chance to see them and hear them chattering away to each other in the trees it is a privilege and a truly wonderful sight especially in a warm sunshine evening , it’s a bonus to a beautiful walk which is full of wildlife .
27 Feb 2020 20:19:00
Is it normal to be seeing a Heron looking for worms in a field? Almost every day just now (Feb) I see him searching for worms and the nearest burn (in Scotland!) is about half mile away perhaps. We are rural and surrounded by fields. I hope he is ok and getting enough to eat?
Thanks
Cally
27 Feb 2020 21:31:00
Warnham Nature Reserve at Horsham has a small heronry. Nesting activity has started – lots of calling and stick-collecting going on at the moment (they fly over my house on their way in and out of the reserve).
27 Feb 2020 22:15:00
Herons can be seen nesting and bringing up their young in Hampton Park on the middle island in the pond opposite the Lakeside Tea Chalet. Normally more than half a dozen pairs nesting. They are a real challenge for a photographer/videographer to get shot of them in flight. But beautiful to watch.
27 Feb 2020 23:31:00
Don’t often see herons. Interesting the stuff about the courtship dances!
28 Feb 2020 02:13:00
I understood that herons nest early to synchronise with emergence of froglets on which young herons feed.
02 Mar 2020 15:53:00
I’ve been told before that there is a heronry which can be seen from the Weirwood Reservoir bird hide car park, looking over the water to some tall trees. Have seen what look like nests but perhaps have never been there the right time to spot the herons.
06 Mar 2020 19:40:00
It is interesting that herons have been noted to nest in Felpham/Hoe Lane. Earlier this week a heron landed on the top of a tree behind our garden in Barnham, West Sussex – what a wonderful sight and then I spotted it yesterday flying over, going north over Barnham. What an honour to spot, what I guess is, a rare sight!
03 Apr 2020 10:11:00
Here in Burgess Hill we have a regular visitor at 7.20-7.30am several times a week. It got the biggest female goldfish (about 10inch long and round) last week but did not take it away. Have now repaired the covers, but it still stops by to check for opportunities or passing frogs. Not sure where it is nesting, suspect it might be quite local as it arrives soon after daybreak.
03 May 2020 09:38:00
I saw a Heron today at the Marshlands by the Pier at Newhaven Harbour. Beautiful sight.
18 Sep 2020 20:32:00
We have a Heron that flies regularly over our field to visit the neighbors rather large pond.
We live in Rackham, West Sussex is there a Heronry near to where we live?
13 Nov 2020 10:39:00
I have observed 8 herons and 4 egrets sitting in a circle by the river ride. These has happened over the past 2 days. It can’t be a natural behaviour but it is fascinating.
03 Jan 2021 18:21:00