Gull and heron
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Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Hacking
my way through the jungle Doing a little gentle gardening on Sunday, trying
to conquer trimming the clematis that was strangling climbing
through the Eucalyptus and the Olivers (Swiss willow, Salix Helvetica) I
heard a persistent mewing cry, almost like a cat. A gull was calling, which is
not unusual, but it was remaining in the same area, not flying on to the nature
reserve nearby, as gulls commonly do.
It cried for such a long time that I began to wonder if it was trapped somewhere. Suddenly, it appeared, chasing a heron which was considerably larger than it. We could not identify it, but it was probably either a herring gull or a lesser black-backed gull.
It is too early for eggs or fledglings, unless the quirky weather has disturbed their rhythms. Gulls mate for life and conduct their courtship from late March onwards, through to September, though principally between March and April, after which they build their untidy nests and lay their eggs. Often, they will return to the previous year’s site if the nest is still intact.
We have seen a heron in the garden several times recently, presumably intent on feeding on our pond fish. They are such nervous birds that it is very difficult to photograph them, though we have managed to snap them from inside the house on a few occasions.
However, it is not just fish that herons eat. They are quite opportunistic omnivores, taking snails, rats, frogs, small birds like robins and larger species like wood pigeons. They will even kill and eat other herons. Maybe the heron we saw had been attempting to kill the gull and discovered that it had met its match. We'll never know!
That is fascinating. We sometimes (tho' not often thank goodness) will see a heron around our pond. I always try to chase it away as it will eat the fish. We are too far inland to get Gulls though. I did not know they ate all those other things as well as fish!
ReplyDeleteThere's usually too much activity to enable a heron to catch our fish, though one has occasionally managed a meal from our pond, if it's come in very early in the morning. Splendid birds, though.
DeleteWe sometimes see Great Blue Herons. A couple of years ago one landed on the house roof. It stayed for about half an hour, calmly looking about. Of course, we crept about like mice so we didn't startle it. It always feels magical to me to see one.
ReplyDeleteIt feels very special to have one in the garden, I agree.
DeleteI don't think we have Herons here, I know we have gulls down at all the beaches, but I can't tell one type from another and wonder if we only have the one type.
ReplyDeleteI think we have silver gulls and Pacific gulls. They are smaller than gulls in the UK, and not quite as aggressive about human food.
DeleteTelling gulls apart is very difficult, unless you're an expert, as they look different at different stages of their lives. They're just gulls to me!
DeleteThe second photo is very good. I remember a bird taking gold fish from our Brother Friends' pond. I think they were herons. The built a chicken wire frame to put over the pond, which was easy to remove if they had visitors...like us.
ReplyDeleteWe thought our black swans paired for life and were faithful partners, and then genetic testing proved otherwise. I don't know which sex was responsible, but I can guess.
'Divorces' happen among the gulls if they can't produce eggs.
DeleteI see plenty of herons on local walks along the river Dee. Not all seem particularly nervous, although they might cower in the face of one of Aberdeen's monster herring gulls.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
It always amuses me to see a heron on dry land, far from water. They look so incongruous.
DeleteWe had a heron regularly visiting our pond in the garden of our previous house. Despite wire barricades it still managed to eat all our fish.
ReplyDeleteThat was kind of you, to look after the wildlife;-)
DeleteI can't remember when I saw a heron the last time ! But seagulls I have seen each year in Eastborne, contrary to other people I love them, they are part of my holidays and they are so clever ! What's funny is when you eat in a restaurant, you get your food on two plates, one with the food and the other to cover the food, because there are always seagulls which watch you ! I have seen such funny situations, could write a book about them !
ReplyDeleteI admire their confidence.
DeleteYes! And the herons are a protected species now
ReplyDeleteunder the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981),...
As a boy, growing up, they used to be shot, and
eaten, and farmers would pay anyone ten
shillings..(50p)..for shooting one, over the years,
like most wildlife, they became less and less...!
Until now, they are still protected...!
And the Herring Gull, has become a vicious bird,
in latter years, even attacking humans, and children
eating ice~cream by the sea~side...! Even drawing
blood from head wounds..! :(.
One thing to keep heron's away from ponds, is easy,
go buy a plastic one, place it in the pond, and just
leave it...Herons are territorial creatures, and will
not bother another sitting heron, on it's patch...! :).
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Some say artificial herons work, others say the opposite. Gulls are a particular nuisance in Cornwall.
DeleteI don't have fish in my pond any more, grown
Deleteover a bit now...used to keep goldfish, Shubunkin,
just the cheaper varieties...as we have pussy~cats,
who are very good fishermen...! :)..
Now! I just have, frogs, toads, newts and slow worms!
I can assure you the plastic heron works, always had
a real heron, fly about over my pond, sat on the fence,
sat on the path..on seeing the plastic heron, never
ever ventured near the pond...!
And..they can live up to 25yrs...!
I live with blue herons around anywhere I am because I'm around so many rivers creeks and lakes. If there is anything that makes a racket it's a blue heron screeching its head off. I would not have known that they kill birds though. But I hadn't really researched what they eat besides anything they can get out of the water.
ReplyDeleteWe only have one heron species in UK, though we do have egrets, too.
DeleteHave seen a heron eat ducklings. The one on our marina was anything but nervous and stalked the pontoons looking for duck nests.
ReplyDeleteFamiliarity breeds contempt. Poor ducks!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about herons. I do think they are quite fascinating to look at though. Just saw one flying overhead when we were on our way to our garage this morning. Then it landed on a nearby chimney but unfortunately it flew off before I could take a photo! xxx
ReplyDeleteThey don't often wait around for a portrait. I do like seeing them, though. x x x
DeleteI do like your photographs. We've seen ducks in the garden making their way to a nearby pond but never herons.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I'd love to have ducks visit our garden. I don't think they'd last long, though, with killer cats and exuberant dogs.
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