Weymouth bird reserve

[tigerlolly]

Hi all, I am really hoping you can help.... today I saw for the second time a heron like bird about a metre or so tall. It was wading in brackish water among reed beds in the reserve. I have often seen a single adult heron and I did wonder whether this may be a juvenile, but then again, I have only ever seen one adult.

[GME]

Hi Tigerjolly and welcome to the forum The bird could well have been a Grey Heron either adult or juvenile. If you describe it a bit more maybe we could narrow it down. E.g. what colour was it, etc? Have you been watching Springwatch? If not, tune in tonight as they're featuring a couple of juvenile Grey Herons on one of their nestcams so you'll be able to compare. I'd imagine it was a Heron rather than an Egret for example, but it's difficult to be sure from what you've said so far

[tigerlolly]

It was pale grey/white feathered and looked like the adult heron apart from it's size, but I have only ever seen one adult heron (of course, it may not have been the same one each time!) I have also seen what I believe to be little egrets (similar shape, but much smaller and all white, not seen in the last few weeks) I am pretty sure it is bigger than the egrets

[tigerlolly]

Hi again. I checked out the Springwatch webcam and the bird I saw was very much paler than the young herons. One of lives mysteries I guess!

[htcdude]

It maybe be a juvenile Grey Heron, one that is younger and paler than the ones on Springwatch? Sunlight can make them appear a different shade of grey too

Nige