GREY HERON

One of those birds that even the most ornithologically-challenged among us can identify, the grey heron is large, with a long neck, long legs and wings that resemble a curving letter ‘M’ in flight. Herons feed primarily near water, so are often seen high up in the valleys and glens alongside burns and streams. Their prey is varied, and alongside fish also includes frogs, newts, toads, rodents and worms. I even saw one catch and swallow whole (after a few attempts) a young rabbit! Their call is a harsh ‘kark’.