Grey Heron

The grey heron is the largest and most common heron in Europe. With its blue-grey plumage, black head stripe and long yellowish bill, it is unmistakable. You can spot it everywhere: along ditches, in marshes, by rivers and even in gardens. Patient and solitary, it stands motionless for minutes before spearing a fish with a lightning-fast strike. Despite its calm appearance, it is a formidable predator — it will swallow a rat or an entire snake without any trouble.