Wonderful news from Dungeness – the purple heron chicks have left the nest. This is the first time that purple herons have fledged in the UK. This news come hot on the heels of the UK’s second successful little bittern nest at our Reserve at Ham Wall – and to make a trio of stories of successful nesters, a young common crane has just fledged at the Nene Washes, another RSPB reserve, making this the first successful crane nest in Cambridgeshire for at least 400 years.
I'm hoping the purple family will hang around for a little while yet - at least until the Dungeness Wildlife and Countryside Fair on 14 - 15 August, I'm going to be there on the Sunday, do come and say hello if you are coming.
We haven’t been able to get any pictures of the young purple herons yet (we are keeping well clear of the nesting area) – so here’s a picture of three young purps in a nest in France (courtesy of Peter Castell/BirdGuides).
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Thanks for your kind thoughts - it's been a great team effort by staff and volunteers at the reserve.
Just heard, by the way, that the Lydd public inquiry will start on 15 February 2011 - the clock is ticking!
Well done the RSPB and all their hard working staff.
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