Grey heron

In my next post I would like to ID the species known as the Grey heron (Ardea cinerea). The heron belongs in the family Ardeidae which all heron species belong to. It is a long legged, large wading bird that I'm sure anyone reading this has seen countless times before! This species is not to be confused with the Great blue heron! Until recent I was falsely ID'ing this species as such but it is important to note that the Great blue heron is only found within the Americas. The Heron has been revered throughout history, in Ancient Egypt the deity Bennu was depicted as a heron, linked with the sun and rebirth and in the Roman era it was a symbolism of Divination. 

Showing the sharp, pointed beak.

Size : 100 cm (39 inches) tall, 84-102 cm (33-40 inches) long with a 1.6-2 metre (5.2-6.6 feet) wingspan.
Ecology : Europe, Asia and Africa.
Sexual dimorphism : No.
Habitat : Lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and sea coast.
Conservation status : Least concern. 
The Grey heron has a varied diet depending on geology but its primary food is small fish, however it will not pass up an opportunity for shrimp and crabs and even rodents, reptiles and smaller birds! With this in mind its easy to say that this species will eat whatever it can fit into its mouth. Its bill is long and sharp to allow the Heron to impale prey before chucking it into the air and swallowing it whole. The throat is long and expansive to allow large prey items to be eaten or stored, any indigestible products such as fur is later spat out in the form of a pellet similar to Owls. 

Breeding occurs between February and June with a typical number of 3 to 5 eggs, they are green in colour and are roughly 43-60 mm (1.69 - 2.36 inches). Grey herons will often breed in groups around a cluster of trees, this is called a Heronry. It is used year after year unless it is destroyed and each nest gradually grows larger as the Herons add more sticks yearly, often the male collects the nesting material whilst the female will construct the nest site. Whenever a Heron arrives at one of the nests all herons within the heronry will raise their wings and plumes in greeting. Once chicks are 7 to 8 weeks they fledge. Many of these young will fall victim to predation with only a third surviving to their second year. The oldest Grey heron recorded was 23 years but 5 years is much more common in the wild. 

Grey heron coming in for landing, notice how large its wings are.

Most of these shots I have posted to accompany this ID are taken in Southern Ireland by Sligo at a raptor research centre, this heron is entirely wild and has the freedom to fly off whenever he/she wants to. This is highly unlikely however as the heron, now known as Bert was brought in to the centre as a rescue, was fed and cared for and wisely when set loose he decided it was better to stay and get free food, why waste energy right? And there's more, hes now invited all his Grey heron friends who have made several Herony's around the centre where they are fed chicks at the raptor shows, because of this they are very tame which allows me to get great shots up close! So thank you Bert for being the only Heron who lets me get within 30 feet before flying off. 

Eating a chick offered to it at the raptor show, it was not scared of anything, even a White tailed Eagle!

Believe it or not there are about 5 chicks in its throat, they are stored to take back to the chicks in the herony for regurgitation.

Just landing.

Showing how long and sharp the beak is, also look at that tongue!