HERONS

GOOD OLD HERONS. There are only a few species to choose from, so this one is going to be nice and easy. This is what you may be thinking as you take on this month’s ID Challenge. But we have stirred things up a tad, so it isn’t quite as easy as it could be. They are not that hard, either, though... Yes, they are all regularly British birds, but not necessarily looking exactly how you may want to find them. We also hope this makes the whole ID process a bit more realistic, as seeing birds in the field is never quite the same as seeing them neatly arranged in a field guide. So, all you have to do is look at these six herons and try to name them. Then, as usual, turn the page for our solutions and reasoning, and turn again for further tips concerning field identification, particularly related to herons and heron-like birds. WHAT AM I?