It's a beautiful day for photography here at RSPB HQ in Bedfordshire with blue skies and snow everywhere. But I'm going to leave it to our guest blogger and photography expert, Tom Mason, to get you in the mood for getting out and taking some shots as he turns his lens onto grey herons. Here's Tom and a selection of his wonderful shots.

Gorgeous, grey and with longs legs to boot! Grey herons (Ardea ciner…

The Nature's Home mailbox is filling up now our January issue has finished mailing -  thanks for all your letters and e-mails. As usual, I am enjoying being thoroughly blown away by your photos and am having a difficult time choosing which ones to feature in the April issue. I'm pretty convinced that today, I have been sent the best picture of a bittern I have ever seen!

While you're getting ready for Big…