Ground-nesting Herons
One of the things I thought I knew was that Grey Herons are colonial nesters in large heronries in trees. I’ve seen their massive nests in tall trees all along the River Dart in Devon, in Swell Wood in Somerset, and in The Regent’s Park in central London.
A trip to RSPB Otmoor challenges that, as there’s a nest in the reeds:
Lovely, aren’t they?
I’ve seen adults courting over the reeds here in previous years:
The three Herons are a beautiful sight huddling together in the reeds. They’re visible for a minute and then retreat to the security of the reed-bed.