Today we joined PR and a small team to visit the Heronry at the Lee Valley Park to monitor the birds' progress and ring the pulli. This was the team's second visit this season.
The Grey Herons were well on their way with well grown young in most nests. Some nests were empty and it looked as though those broods were already fledged. There was one tree, however that had nests faring rather less well than the rest of the colony. This tree was at the edge of the lake and as well as the tree looking rather sickly with foliage behind the surrounding trees, it was evident that the prevailing north easterly winds of the last three weeks had taken its toll on the tree and nests in this very exposed position. The young in those nests looked undersized and because of the condition of the tree and the apparent condition of the young were not disturbed.
Seven chicks were marked with metal and darvic rings.
There were several Little Egret nests but apart from a nest of three young that needed another few days before being large enough to ring, the other clutches were not yet hatched.
Time on the island was limited to an hour as adult birds are put off as soon as the punt approaches.
Many thanks to PR to gain experience of this type of monitoring.