Heron

[Alex Ice]

Had another visit today

Looked like a different one than last time, slightly smaller, a female possibly? It was by the wildlife pond this time (which isn't netted) but I have put some fishing line tied to bamboo sticks across the sloping side and it seems to have worked because this bird walked up and down the length of the water without actually trying to enter it.

Funny how I have never seen a heron in all the years we have lived at this house and suddenly we get two in a week or so, maybe they have visited before unseen at dawn though. I wonder if they can actually smell the fish?

[CFC]

Probably got a little pair of binoculars in its nest Alex!

[Kady]

Had another visit yesterday from a much smaller heron (baby?) I've double netted the pond now, very tiny holed plastic cheapo wilko net underneath, then green stretchy bird netting over the top (roll end off ebay). I don't want the fish getting stabbed through the holes.

I read somewhere that if a heron fails to get a fish on its first visit it doesn't return. My husband saw it looking hopefully at the dew pond later in the day but I've never seen anything alive in there.

They are quite impressive birds, pity they can't eat bird seed really, I'd be quite happy to feed one with something inanimate.

[johnsb00]

There are many tales of what herons can and can't do
Ignore them all as the cunning little gits will find a way
Keep the protection in place and keep the fish safe
I agree they are impressive birds but I still don't want one

[Alex Ice]

Probably got a little pair of binoculars in its nest Alex!

NEST???? I was rather hoping it was just passing through!

[ashlee_iveson]

get an air rifle! if it survives i doubt itl come back!

[Feline]

Here is a picture of my heron visitor a few years ago in a previous pond here.
His legs are caught up in the fishing line heron defences.
heron 002 by Lara Day, on Flickr

He played dead while I cut him free, then had to take 5 in the bushes before regurgitating a frog and goldfish (not mine) then flying off.
As far as I know he has not been back since

heron 003 by Lara Day, on Flickr

Canon 004 (21) by Lara Day, on Flickr

[CFC]

Oh crikey I'd be terrified to disentangle it in case it pecked me or I hurt it. I truly love my fish but I wouldn't want to see that in my garden

[Feline]

When he played dead he let his head droop into the water. I had to hold it up for him. He didnt do anything aggressive to me
I suppose if I wasnt used to handling big birds at work then I might have been more worried. He was much easier to deal with than a swan

[johnsb00]

The only time I have helped a swan
She broke three fingers on my left hand