I did get around to doing a bit of extra reading about those Grey Herons I was watching yesterday morning. They were there again today - but the spring tide was fully out and they were much further away - and only 3!
So what have I learned? Well Grey Heron's are apparently flourishing across Europe. In Amsterdam they have fully adjusted to urban life and have become rather like Seagulls.
Our Grey Heron population does not migrate as I thought - and UK population is estimated as 68000 birds.
Their wingspan ranges between 5ft and 6ft 6ins so they really are big birds. Yesterday afternoon when I was walking our dog one took off out of the reed beds and bushes. They rise vertically like a Harrier Jump Jet - but with 10% of the elegance and twice the noise as their great wings flap and slap until they get some clearance and then some forward momentum.
They nest in a "Heronry" typically in very large numbers and often feed in relative close proximity to other Herons for obvious safety reasons.
The final bit of startling fact - they don't just eat fish and reptiles like frogs and newts - they take mammals too - small birds - especially ducklings!
It is totally illogical but knowing Grey Herons eat ducklings has put me off them a bit - but I shall get over it - because they are brilliant to watch fish on a still clear day.
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