Could these two herons be starting a courtship routine in West Park? When we got to the park, on a sunny morning last month, there was one heron perched in a willow on the island (second picture in the set). We paused to look at it, and I fired off some shots. Then we moved a bit further round, to get a better view of the heron and of other birds.
That meant we lost sight of the heron for a couple of minutes as we passed some bushes between us and the lake. When we got a clear view of the willow, a second heron had appeared, perched on the tree and already settled.
The two birds were facing each other directly. I’m used to seeing two or more herons standing or perching in such a way that they appear to be avoiding seeing each other, although perhaps keeping a watch out of the corner of an eye.
These two were in mutual eye contact, and continued in that condition for at least ten minutes.
The later arrival was slightly larger than the one which had already been there. The sexes are similar in herons, other than the males being a little bigger, so it’s possible that was what we had there.
At one point, the smaller bird stretched its neck out towards the other, a movement associated with the species’ courtship display. If that was what was happening, it was very early: mid-December, when the usual time from February.
They were still doing whatever it was that they were up to when we decided we had been standing still for too long in a cold wind and headed off.
Because they were focussed on each other, they completely ignored our presence. So I was able to get a few more pictures where I zoomed in on the more recent arrival. I’ll post pictures of the individual birds another day.