20/01/2015 Night Heron near Hythe in Kent

Tuesday 20th January 2015
Hythe, Kent

I made the long journey east to Hythe in Kent to twitch the Night Heron that has been seen around for some time now.  From earlier reports, I half expected to be knee-deep in mud, in danger from unfriendly dog walkers and in the end only finish up with long distance views of this bird. 

• On the contrary, it was a mere 5 minutes walk from the car with only patches of mud, no dogs or other birders and the views were terrific, from less than 10 metres. 

•  This was easy birding - large, sedentary bird showing prominently half way up the left hand edge of a bush.  No need for the scope or indeed the binoculars for this one.

This was a UK first for me but not a "lifer" having seen a several in Melbourne, Australia a couple of years ago and another in France last year on one of Andrew's trips.




Night Heron
Library picture

Addition to BUBO UK 2015 Year List:
Night Heron   (112)

Addition to BUBO UK Life List:
Night Heron   (282)

Life History

Mainly crepuscular. Roosts by day in thick cover, especially leafy trees. It breeds only all continents except Australasia and Antarctica with most European birds wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. Usually a colonial nester and often nesting amongst other herons and ibis but only loosely gregarious outside the breeding season. Most UK records are of single birds.

UK Status

This is a scarce migrant bird to the UK which is usually less than twenty records per annum.