Birds of Ireland: Grey Heron
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) or just Heron. Seen along the coast and lower reaches of rivers. Although the heron is often colloquially referred to as "crane" here in Ireland, it is not a crane. There are no cranes in Ireland.
Our tallest bird, grey herons have a large dagger-shaped beak.
Herons are around 90-96cm long and have a wing-span of 150-173cm. They are found here all year around and are a common breeding species. They live in wetlands or estuaries.
Adult grey herons have a pale grey head with a thick black stripe from their eyes to the back of their head. They have a long neck, grey body, and long legs.
Their breeding plumage features long, thin feathers on their neck/breast and they have two long black feathers growing from the back of their head. Their beak changes colour from (non-breeding) dull yellow-orange to (breeding) bright pink.
Immature grey herons have greyer plumage and a duller beak.
In flight, grey herons have bowed wings and slow wingbeats — and they fly with their neck tucked in and their legs trailing beyond their short tail. Their grey backs with darker primaries/secondaries are visible in flight, though young birds are not as clearly marked.
Their voice is a loud call. The sounds of adults / young at nest during day and at night are like a fairy-tale monster or someone getting sick!
Remember there might be other people watching the bird you are trying to photograph or film, so be considerate and ask their permission before trying to get a little closer. Also, respect people's privacy and private property. Restrain yourself from using any optical equipment on crowded beaches, or built-up areas. Remember, people might not realise that you are only interested in the bird on the hedge in their garden.
- Featured in , (Gill Books) by Jim Wilson, with photographs by Mark Carmody.
- Jim Wilson is a wildlife writer, broadcaster, tour leader, and former chairman of BirdWatch Ireland. He has been involved in the study and conservation of birds in Ireland for more than 45 years, contributing to several major surveys and international projects.
- Mark Carmody is an award-winning wildlife photographer, has a PhD in biochemistry and works as a European patent attorney.
