Grey heron  (Ardea cinerea)

The grey heron feeds mainly on fish (4), which it hunts by patiently standing completely still at the side of the water, and striking rapidly when a fish comes into range (2). The prey is caught in the bill or speared; amphibians, small mammals, birds and invertebrates may also be taken (4). Feeding areas are often vigorously defended against intruders (3). It breeds either solitarily or in colonies, called heronries, in woodland close to water (2). The heronries are usually traditional sites used by successive generations (4). The flat nest of sticks is built in the crown of the tree early in the year, and 4 or 5 eggs are laid towards the end of March (4), though often earlier in mild winters (7). Both parents share the duties of incubation, which takes 25-26 days. The young, which are covered in down in their first days of life and are fed on regurgitated fish, fledge after 20-30 days (4).