Scarce night heron's extended stay at restored Somerset wetland hints at range expansion

A black-crowned night heron — a scarce UK visitor — was photographed over three days at Somerset's Holnicote Estate, a National Trust wetland restored by reconnecting the River Aller to its floodplain. The species first bred in the UK in Somerset in 2017. Its sustained presence at habitat built for such birds suggests restored wetlands may help them spread northward.