Things you need to know about GREY HERONS!

Standing at up to a metre tall and with a wingspan of between 155 and 195 centimetres, the grey heron is almost unmistakable. Adults have an orangey yellow, dagger shaped beak, a dark eye stripe which contrasts with their almost white head and neck, grey wings with dark outer edges and a small crest of feathers protruding from the back of their heads. They also have long spindly legs and hold these and their heads and necks close into their bodies during flight. For the most part, males and females look the same although the crest of feathers, which are known as Aigrets are slightly longer in breeding condition males.
Grey herons are mostly a waterside bird, found at all inland waterways, along the coast and much to the annoyance of koi and goldfish keepers, theyll frequently attempt to visit garden ponds. With this wetland preference, a lot of their diet is made up of fish and amphibians but they will also hunt away from the water and take small mammals, birds and insects. They catch their larger prey by surprise, stalking it, impaling it and then swallowing it whole.
When it comes to nesting, grey herons will often choose to nest communally in what is known as a heronry. This will usually be in clusters of large trees on islands or close to water and they will sometimes share their nesting areas with other fish eating birds such as great cormorants, spoonbills and egrets. From the age of two years onwards, each adult heron will attempt to find a mate from early spring onwards and once they are successful will begin the construction of a large twig platform nest. Once the nest is complete, each pair will produce between 3 and 5 greeney blue eggs at 2 day intervals. These measure 6cm in length and are incubated by both parents for 27 days from when the first or second is laid. This means that the chick hatch at intervals too and their can be a noticeable size difference between them. Both parents bring food back to the chicks in the nest and they grow rapidly, fledging at 50-55 days old. At this point the young are duller and scruffier looking versions of their parents and are still cared for away from the nest for a further 2 to 4 weeks until they are able to fend for themselves. Each pair will only nest once per year and after nesting they remain mostly solitary, only searching out a new mate the following spring.
There are currently an estimated 13,000 grey heron nests in the UK and 63,000 birds overwintering here. They are also found across most of Europe, Russia, northern Asia parts of Australasia and south Africa. They have a close and similar looking relative in the Americas called a great blue heron. Grey herons in the UK dont migrate and at some point outside of the breeding season they can be seen stood along a waterway or in a field all facing the same direction, and no one really know why they do this although it is thought it might be just for social interaction. They have an average lifespan of around five years but the oldest wild bird on record made it to 23 years of age.
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Some of the footage used in this video was obtained using creative common licences. The originals can be found at:
Some of the images are also creative commons-
Heron nest image:

[ttxela]

Gorgeous birds, love seeing them on the river 👍

[MexF]

Wow! Thanks for this video I didn’t know that grey herons share nesting areas with other fish eating birds and these types of videos you make are great for beginners.

[IGlowIFlow]

Seen them in my country lately, I fell in love! They do get easily annoyed though, and when they do they “scream” as they fly away it’s funny and cute 🥰

[janiedunn]

👍🏻. Lovely 😊 birds. Enjoying watching a herons nest 🪹 on Springwatch just now

[wolfenstein]

Things you need to know about grey herons - They eat everything and anything that isn't nailed down :) .

[simonpackham]

Thank you for including the sounds of the bird.
I used to be awestruck at the sight of the graceful flight of the grey heron, however, living near a mill pond, a duck had a brood of 12 ducklings. Over a period of time, the freaking heron ate the lot.
I have a similar love turned to hate relationship with swans when canoeing on my local canal …

[ronseymour]

Thanks Liam, your videos are informative and well put together.

[lts]

Great video, thanks. I saw a heron just the other day, beautiful birds.

[penboyasgod]

There's several Grey Heron nests in Eucalyptus trees surrounding a reservoir near downtown L.A. I love watching them. I think the Greys are a bit larger than the Great Blues.

[michaeljames]

I've been a wildlife, landscape photographer for nearly 40 years and i find your videos both fascinating and informative.

[xNickiRosex]

One of my favorite birds I get to see in my backyard! ❤ We have one we see on a daily basis, he’s about 12 years old now. He’s the LARGEST Heron I’ve ever seen in my life. We have the “Great Blue” but they almost look identical! The Great Blue’s definitely DO have that slate blue tint to their feathers though! He rules our side of the river & eats some of the biggest fish out there. HIGHLY skilled in his hunting. He’s actually become comfortable enough to perch himself on our dock & our boat lift! Under the dock, the biggest fish have learned for most of the year, they’re pretty safe/comfortable under there, & have started living under there or laying eggs, so the Heron now knows to go there & stick his sword of a beak under there & get those giant fish! He’s quite amazing to watch. 😊❤

[KrisHughes]

I love your channel! The information is simple enough for everyone, the videos are relaxing and informative. There's no hype. Well done, mate!

[pazamataz]

I love these videos they’re very soothing, and I love herons. They always remind me of whistler from the animals of farthing wood.

[jeanielam]

A grey heron just moved into the pond next to my apartment! I’m here learning about my new neighbor!

[gearoiddom]

What a fantastic channel. All the key info in a few mins. Great accompanying footage. And all local to our part of the world - no need to resort to the exotic to impress.

[gally]

Great video thanks! Not far from the river aire where i am, nearly every night without fail there is a grey heron in the same spot looking out and feeding. Great to learn more about them.

[philallen]

Hi Liam, also only started recently watching your videos from New Zealand, short and to the point but very informative with lots of essential facts, keep it up, Thanks

[jimbenge]

Loving these videos. I'd love to hear more bird song and calls as this is usually the first sign before a sighting. Great work, keep it up. 🙌🙌

[anthonymctigue]

MIGHTY STUFF WE HAVE A FEW HERE IN WEST OF IRELAND NEST ON ISLANDS ON LAKES .YOU DO A GREAT JOB .YOU HAVE GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF WILD BIRDS .

[gingerninjawhinger]

Thanks, Liam, for sharing such an informative video and it is great to hear the heron's call. The heron is such a majestic bird; there used to be a single heron living around my part of the town, although the Town Pond was over a mile away; I would often see him every morning standing on the rooftops, before, silently, he flew off, such a beautiful sight.