As a predator at the top of the freshwater food chain, the presence of a grey heron is a good indicator of a healthy environment.
They are common in the UK and equally successful in Europe , Asia and sub-Saharan Africa . They are also an ‘ancient' bird with fossil records going back 120,000 years to the last glaciation.
Herons are associated with water and spend most of their time there. This month these one metre tall birds are likely to be swaying precariously in the upper branches of trees in your local heronry.
Like rooks, herons choose to nest communally and use the same nest each year. There are around 13,000 nests sited near to our waterways and heronries can vary in size from just four or five nests to an incredible 200 nests in England 's largest site in Kent .
Herons nest in both coniferous and deciduous trees with no apparent preference. But if there are none about, they can cleverly adapt to cliff tops or reed beds and even, if needs be, the ruins of a building.
They are in their best plumage now - a signal of health and readiness to breed.
Their beaks and legs change from yellow and olive to bright pink or orange, especially in males. Their feathers are elegant with black stripes above the eye which extend backwards to the nape where two trailing feathers adorn an erect crest.
The front of their graceful neck is adorned with a line of black chevrons which become progressively longer as they snake down towards the body.
These are finished off with long white plumes which hang from the lower breast. Stylish narrow elongated feathers drape over folded wings on the heron's back.
Feather-perfect they are set for courtship, and battle. As they look for the best nests, noisy squabbles break out in the tree tops.
The courtship begins with the male standing on the nest. He arches his head back, bill facing skywards and feathers fluffed. His raucous calls and displays quickly attract his mate.
Surprisingly, he will often lunge viciously at his partner before pair bonding commences in earnest. Then offers her a few sticks by way of an apology, and she, with admirable tolerance, puts his outburst behind her and starts to spruce up the nest, adding a fresh new layer each year.
At four feet in diameter and four or five stone in weight it's no surprise that some nests tumble to the ground in inclement weather. This makes competition for sites even more intense.
Jack daws, tree and house sparrows, starlings, great tits and magpies all take advantage of the heron's hard work and are often seen nesting in the under storey.
Some pairs have to start building from scratch, whilst others just need to do a spring clean, and so a steady stream of sticks are flown into the heronry.
One bird guards the nest while the other fishes and carries back sticks. Each time a new stick is delivered posturing and displays reaffirm the pair bond.
In most heronries, eggs are in place by Valentine's day.
It can be very difficult to observe heronries as their nests are so high up in the trees. I've seen heronries in North Wales and in the Outer Hebrides .
Closer to home, there is one at Scampston park where my brother David used to work. Unfortunately this doesn't have public access.
I'd heard that there was a heronry close to the public footpath at Newbridge, which follows Pickering beck to High Hunt bridge, so I set off on Sunday to see for myself.
According to the account I was reading, the heronry should be in the tall trees on the right between two stiles.
I saw a heron fly overhead, but couldn't see a heronry. And it shouldn't be difficult to spot. I noticed that the area where I was expecting to see it had been replanted, I hope this heronry hasn't been cut down!
I noticed a few large nests, but they turned out to be grey squirrel dreys. There were a few others which were on the far side of the beck and railway line which I didn't have chance to investigate as the light was fading and my six month old daughter was wanting to be homeward bound.
Perhaps a reader could write in and tell me if there is still a heronry in this area or if they know of any others which can be accessed easily. They are really well worth seeing, it's like something out of Jurassic Park.
|
Wildlife Diary -
