Spotting a heron in its nest is not easy. The nests are uncommon, high in a tree, and generally hidden by the rest of the canopy. A chance opening in the foliage sometimes offers a peek. Rick Greene told me where to look.
A number of herons were flying in and out of this portion of the forest, so there are probably more nests, but only one could be seen from the distant ground.
That must have been an exciting find! I’ve only seen them in Stanley Park in Vancouver. Thanks for the photo.
Hi Alistair
Here’s something: if this is a herony of some vintage, you may find little bursts of orange lichen on the lower branches of the trees. Any conifer with branches conspicuously spotted and splotched with such “Sunburst Lichens” is likely to be – or to have been – a nest tree. These lichens benefit from nitrogen input. The rest you can surmise…
Best
Trevor
Trevor, wow, I will look for it.