Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Nottinghamshire, England - December 2009
Grey Heron is a widespread and familiar bird in most of Europe and also throughout Africa and Asia, although it is uncommon in most areas there. It was formerly heavily persecuted in Europe but its numbers have increased considerably in the last century.
Nottinghamshire, England - March 2012
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Nottinghamshire, England - April 2010
They nest colonially in trees, especially those which are situated on small islands. In northern Europe egg laying starts in early February and reaches a peak at the end of March. The usual clutch size is 3-5 and incubation lasts 25-26 days. The young hatch asynchronously with the oldest and strongest having the greatest chance of survival. When food is plentiful the parent birds are capable of raising all their chicks but if there is a shortage the older chicks take the lion's share and the younger chicks which are not able to compete as vigorously either die of starvation or are ejected from the nest by their siblings..
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Nottinghamshire, England - April 2010
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Nottinghamshire, England - April 2010
The chick in the photo below is vigorously defending its nest from a maurauding sub-adult who was attempting to steal a stick for use in its own nest...
Nottinghamshire, England - April 2010
Shortly afterwards, one of the parent birds returned and immediately chased the would-be thief away.
Nottinghamshire, England - April 2010
Nottinghamshire, England - April 2010
Juvenile playing with a branch from its nest - Nottinghamshire, England - April 2010
 Derbyshire, England - January 2010 |
West Glamorgan, Wales - November 2002 |
 Immature - The Gambia - January 2003 |
sub-adult - Nottinghamshire, England - April 2010 |
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