The grey heron can be found along most waterways, often standing very still at the water’s edge waiting for an unsuspecting fish. Their plumage is a mix of grey, white and black and, at almost a metre tall, they are an impressive sight with long legs and a long beak.

They can also be seen standing in fields during periods of flooding or just after harvest.

Grey herons are easiest to spot when taking flight, with a large wingspan of up to two metres.  For much of the year, grey herons spend time alone. However, during the breeding season which starts from the end of January, birds come together in large groups called ‘heronries’. They build nests near the tops of trees, and heronries can contain as many as 40 nests.

My first experience of seeing herons up close was during my teens when I was volunteering on a nature reserve in Carmarthenshire. I was awoken by a loud chorus of raspy calls coming from the garden of the farmhouse where I was lodging. Ten grey herons were perched in the trees, no more than a couple of metres away. An amazing sight.

This was also around the time that little egrets started arriving in larger numbers. These birds are smaller than grey herons and are all white with noticeably yellow feet.

A grey heron’s diet consists mainly of fish, although they will also dine on amphibians, small mammals, and ducklings. Their method of fishing involves spending long periods standing incredibly still, before striking quickly with their long beak.

Occasionally, if food is in short supply or they spot an opportunity for a quick snack, grey herons have been known to visit garden ponds. Having tall plants around the edge can help to provide refuge for pond dwellers.

Grey heron population

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) oversees the annual heronry census carried out by volunteers across the UK. The most recent census results show a long-term increase in grey heron populations, with 9,417 heronries counted in 2023.

The birds are susceptible to cold winters, particularly when they occur in successive years. This happened most recently in the 2010s but the overall outlook for grey herons is positive.

Grey herons lay 3-4 eggs which hatch in early spring. This is a great opportunity to visit your local heronry, to see the young birds in the trees before the leaves return and block the view.

Where to spot grey herons

Cleeve Heronry has more than 40 nests in the tops of the oak and ash trees. The herons arrive in February and often lay their eggs in the same nests year after year.

Eggs hatch in March and, in the early morning and evenings, the adult herons can be seen flying out to their fishing grounds and returning to feed their young. The best time to see the fledglings in the nest is April, before the leaves have opened on the trees. While there is direct access to the reserve, there is good viewing from the layby, so bring your binoculars and you can watch the fledglings being fed each spring.

Plan your visit to Cleeve Heronry

Eastville Park herons are also a common sight around the lakes at Eastville Park and on the River Frome that runs through it. Used to the hustle and bustle of the park, these confident birds allow for good views and photography.