Order:
Heron
(Ciconiiformes)
The Heron family includes several elegant water birds such as Herons, Egrets and the secretive Bittern.
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Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
The Grey Heron is a large grey bird with very long legs and a long pointed beak.
This elegant bird is often seen standing motionless on one leg at the water's edge.
It has a thick black stripe of feathers above the eye, which grow out behind the head in a long black tuft.
The young Grey Heron does not have this black tuft, and its body is a paler grey than the adult.
The Grey Heron flies with very slow, graceful wing beats, while its long neck is folded into an "S" shape, tucking the head above the body. When flying, its wings curve inwards.
Habitat
It can be found in watery places such as lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and estuaries.
The Grey Heron hunts for food in the water. It eats fish, frogs, insects, water-voles, and sometimes other water birds (usually young ones).
It carefully and quietly watches the water for moving animals, standing still, taking the occasional slow, careful step, so as not to disturb the water.
When it sees a tasty morsel, it plunges its head into the water and catching its prey in its sharp beak.
Nest and Eggs
The Grey Heron makes a fabulously large nest out of sticks. It builds its nest in the treetops or on a cliff edge.
The mother lays four or five blue-green eggs. It breeds between March and July.
Where and When?
Grey Herons can be found all over Britain. Many stay here all year round. Others decide to fly away to warmer places for the winter and set off in September.
Call
Grey Herons make a loud squawk when flying and croak when sitting in the nest.
Length
91 cm.
Fun Fact
When standing completely still, amongst the reeds, the Grey Heron is so well camouflaged that it is almost completely invisible.
Bittern
Botaurus stellaris
The Bittern is a very rare and very secretive bird. It is a rich deep brown with patterns of cream and black.
The Bittern is a water bird, and lives amongst reedbeds. It has a long, pointed beak, which is ideal for spearing fish.
Bitterns protect themselves from predators, by being very well camouflaged by their reed-coloured striped and spotted feathers.
Reedbeds are becoming more and more scarce as water is drained from wetlands for human use. As a result, many water birds have great difficulty in finding suitable habitat. The Bittern is one such bird, and it has become quite scarce, with only 13 breeding males known in Britain.
The Bittern is a close relative of the Grey Heron, but unlike the Heron, the Bittern has short legs.
Food
The Bittern eats the same kind of food as its close relative, the Grey Heron. It eats fish, eels, frogs and voles.
Nest and Eggs
The nest is made of sedge and reeds amongst rushes, quite near to the water surface. Five or six olive-brown eggs are laid.
The young fluffy brown hatchlings are fed for about a month while they stay in the nest. Then they disappear off into the reeds.
Where and When?
Bitterns breed in the South East of England in protected sanctuaries, and in some reedbeds outside protected areas. Some of them stay in South East England all year long. Others migrate, departing in September or October.
Call
During the Springtime breeding season, the male attracts a female by making a deep "boom" sound, like a foghorn, which can be heard up to three miles away. Bitterns also makes a deep "honk" sound. It makes most noise at night.
Length
76 cm.
Fun Fact
When the Bittern is disturbed, it will make itself invisible by pointing its beak straight up to the sky, so that it blends in with the surrounding reeds.