This morning, I visited Thorndon Country Park near Brentwood and specifically Old Hall Pond in the southern section of the park where an adult Black-crowned Night Heron had been first reported yesterday.
The bird was very easy to locate given the directions provided by other birders already present at the location but it was not easy to see since it was relatively obscured by the willow trees at the edge of the pond and didn't move!
Nonetheless, this record took my 2023 UK year list to 133 species plus it was only my 5th UK record of this species.
I saw my first Black-crowned Night Heron in May 2002 at RSPB Titchwell in Norfolk followed by one at Hythe in Kent in December 2008 and presumably the same bird at the same location in January 2009. My last record was of one at EWT Two Tree Island in April 2011 so it has been a long wait for another.
The Black-crowned Night Heron is a relatively rare but regular visitor to the UK and in August 2017 a photo confirmed that, for the first time in recorded history, a pair bred in the UK. The photo of 2 adults and 2 recently fledged juveniles were roosting at Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve, having either bred there or nearby on another section of the Avalon Marshes.
I have seen plenty of Black-crowned Night Herons at various locations across southern and south eastern Europe.
I was unable to get any photos of the Black-crowned Night Heron at Thorndon Country Park but some photos have been posted on social media such as ....
Today’s Night heron at Thorndon Country Pk, Brentwood. I was met by departing birders, who had seen it fly off from its initial roost but luckily it was soon found high up and about 200 yds away @EssexBirdNews @ExploreEssex @BBCSpringwatch #BirdsSeenIn2023 #birdphotography #birds pic.twitter.com/URmSefcv69
— Mike O'Hanlon (@YellowShriker) April 26, 2023
However, here are 3 of my photos of Black-crowned Night Heron, the first of the bird at Hythe in Kent on 28th December 2008 and 2 others of a bird at the BSPB Poda Protected Area in Burgas Province, Bulgaria on 22nd May 2018.
Photo: Black-crowned Night Heron at BSPB Poda Protected Area, Burgas Province, Bulgaria
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Black-crowned Night Heron a good sighting, and local too!
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