Rare black-crowned night heron spotted on camera at Somerset National Trust site
Conservationists have confirmed that the black-crowned night heron, a rare species in England, has been spotted in Somerset.
Although common across Africa, Asia, America and Europe, this adaptable bird remains an occasional visitor to British shores.
Its first confirmed breeding in the UK was recorded in Somerset in 2017, before the elusive bird was captured by camera at the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate.
This stocky member of the heron family typically reaches up to 66 cm; this is about half the size of the more common gray heron.
Known for its gray plumage, yellow legs and distinctive black “cap” from which long white “feather” feathers emerge, the night heron’s nocturnal habits make it particularly difficult for observers to spot.
Ben Eardley, nature restoration project manager for Somerset Coast and Countryside, said: “It is rare to see this wetland species in the UK and it is so exciting that we observed one on our site cameras for three consecutive days.
“The UK has lost more than 97 per cent of its wetlands due to changes in drainage and land management.
“Restoring existing wetlands and identifying opportunities to create new areas will help wildlife thrive, improve water quality, reduce flood risk and create more resilient landscapes for future generations.
“At Holnicote, we are developing a rich mosaic of freshwater habitats, including beaver wetlands, which provide an ideal refuge not only for species such as the black-crowned night heron, but also for wildlife such as water voles, otters, pine martens, fish species and even white-tailed eagles.”
Jack Siviter, beaver and wetland project manager at Holnicote Estate, said: “We continue to focus on wetland creation through our project work, as well as allowing beavers to modify and produce these habitats at scale.
“If we can do this successfully, we will probably see more wetland specialists come to Holnicote, and who knows, night herons may continue to show up.”
Wetland charity WWT lists the night heron as one of the birds it predicts could become an established breeder in the UK as their range expands due to climate change.
The footage is one of a series of surprising moments captured on National Trust wildlife cameras in recent months.
Five livestream cameras gave viewers insight into the lives and behavior of barn owls, gulls, beavers, pied flycatchers and blue tits on National Trust sites.
In October, cameras captured a beaver sneezing, delighting viewers and garnering more than two million views.
