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BY MARK WORGAN

A rare black-crowned night heron has been recorded on wildlife cameras at the National Trust's Holnicote estate in Somerset, raising hopes that newly created wetlands are providing a haven for the elusive bird.

The species, Nycticorax nycticorax, is widespread across Africa, Asia, the Americas and parts of Europe but remains an uncommon visitor to the UK.

The first confirmed breeding record of the black-crowned night heron in Britain was in Somerset in 2017. However, the British Trust for Ornithology says the species is seen so infrequently that there are too few records to map its distribution.

The stocky bird is much smaller than the more familiar grey heron, growing to around 66cm (26in). It has grey plumage, yellow legs and a distinctive black cap with trailing white plumes. As a largely nocturnal species, it is rarely seen during daylight hours.

The bird was captured on cameras over three consecutive days at Holnicote, where the National Trust has been restoring freshwater habitats as part of its wider conservation work.

Ben Eardley, Restore Nature Project Manager for Somerset Coast and Countryside, said: “It’s rare to see this wetland species in the UK and so exciting that we have observed one on our estate cameras on three consecutive days.

“The UK has lost over 97% of its wetlands through drainage and changes in land management. Renewing 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 habitat, including beaver wetlands, which provide an ideal refuge for not only species like the black-crowned night heron, but also wildlife including water voles, otters, pine martens, fish species and even white-tailed eagles.”

Conservationists hope habitat restoration could encourage more wetland species to return to the area.

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) has identified the black-crowned night heron as one of several bird species that could become an established breeder in the UK as climate change alters its range.

The sighting is one of several unusual moments captured by the National Trust's network of wildlife cameras in recent months.

Five live-streaming cameras have been monitoring species including barn owls, guillemots, puffins, beavers, pied flycatchers and blue tits at National Trust sites.

In October, footage of a sneezing beaver attracted more than two million views online.
Earlier this year, the Trust also installed large "Window to the Wild" screens in cities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, allowing people to watch live footage of beavers and puffins. The displays are due to return later this year, featuring seals and their pups.

Lisa Gledhill, the National Trust's audio visual producer who co-ordinates the wildlife cameras, said: “One of the reasons it’s so difficult to see these herons is that they are nocturnal, but our live cameras give people an opportunity to see them without leaving home – and we know that’s something that really excites our audiences.”

Holnicote Estate Beaver & Wetlands Project Officer Jack Siviter added: “We are continuing to focus on wetland creation through our project work, as well as letting beavers modify and produce these habitats at scale.

“If we can do this successfully, we are likely to see more wetland specialists arrive at Holnicote, and who knows – night herons might continue to appear.”