Getting closer view of herons
MOST of us will have had encounters with herons, even if they are just flying gracefully over the motorway.
There is something soothing about seeing a grey heron slowly making its way to its next wet food source.
And there is something calming about watching a heron patiently standing in water watching for fish.
Generally, the heron is disguised by a reed bed or foliage behind it and so it can be quite difficult to see as it stands stock still.
So it was nice to see a heron close up as I was lunching at our Brockholes nature reserve, close to Preston.
The thing is, the water level is so low at the moment that herons are moving away from their regular fishing spots and closer to diners at our nature reserves.
Some of you will have had closer encounters with herons when they land in your garden pond looking for dins. Indian folklore says it’s good luck for a heron to land on your house and in your garden – not if you are a coy carp!
I was having a conversation about large white butterflies making holes in our nasturtiums, don’t we grow plants to attract bees and butterflies? Don’t we have ponds to attract wildlife too? I am batting for more native, wild ponds in our gardens to help our birds, bees and amphibians, so forget your false, pristine ponds with imported fish.
Herons are much better in wilder environments, they are really a bit too big for our gardens standing about a metre tall and a nearly two-metre wingspan. They are easily recognised – grey-backed, with long legs, a long, white neck, bright yellow bill and a black eyestripe that continues as long, drooping feathers down the neck. A heron flies with its long legs stretched out, but its neck pulled in.
Herons nest in colonies called “heronries”, often in the top of trees. Colonies can number up to 100 birds, which would be pretty spectacular. The young herons will stay in the messy nests for six weeks before they are ready to fly.
They mainly feed on fish, but also eat small mammals, waterbirds and crayfish. I read a great Native American story on the internet about the heron and hummingbird racing for possession of all the fish in the rivers and lakes. Both birds were heading for a tree and had four days to reach it.
During the race the hummingbird zipped from place to place while the heron set a steady, slow pace.
The hummingbird tired himself and needed to rest at night, discovering a taste for nectar during his busy day. Eventually the heron won and now has all the fish while the hummingbird has to eat nectar. A bit like an exotic tortoise and the hare.
So make the most of the low water levels and get a closer view of one of our most magnificent birds. You won’t see any hummingbirds locally. in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 29,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers. To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www. lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust. org.uk.