Grey Heron

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One of my favourite wildlife experiences was witnessing a grey heron watching the water patiently for its' prey at dusk in early February at the UEA lake. This distinctive wetland bird is characterised by its' long legs and lengthy neck. Grey herons (Ardea cinerea)  measure to a length of 90-98 cm with a wingspan of 175-195 cm. They have a long, spear-like, yellow bill. Adults are grey with black feathers on the front of their breast and neck. They have black feathers on their crest too. Juveniles lack the crest and are more grey and grubby-looking. They also have shorter necks.

In flight, herons have strong, slow wing-beats and hold their neck drawn up the shoulders in an 's' shape. The long legs extend beyond the tail. 


Herons can stand by water waiting for hours at a time for fish, especially eels, amphibians and small mammals like ducklings and rodents. 


Grey herons nest in colonies in tall trees or reedbeds. They fashion a large platform of sticks to support 3-5 eggs between February and April. According to the RSPB, there are about 13,000 nests every year. It takes approximately 25 days for the eggs to hatch. The young will fly after 50 days after hatching. This bird breeds in Britain and Ireland. They stay in the UK for winter and there are 63,000 individuals. The grey heron holds a green UK conservation status.

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