A rare black-crowned night heron has been spotted on cameras in Somerset – raising hopes that work to develop freshwater habitats on the estate is providing a refuge for the elusive species.

The small bird is widespread across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. The first confirmed breeding of night heron in the UK was recorded in Somerset in 2017, but it is a scarce visitor to the UK, with the British Trust for Ornithology stating that 'it is too rarely reported to map [its] distribution’

This stocky member of the heron family which typically grows up to 66cm in size (roughly half the length of the much taller grey heron that is more common to the UK) has grey plumage, yellow legs and a black ‘cap’, from which trail long white ‘plume’ feathers. As its name implies, it is mainly active at night – making it doubly difficult for enthusiasts to spot.

Ben Eardley, Restore Nature Project Manager for Somerset Coast and Countryside, said: “It’s rare to see this wetland species in the UK and so exciting that we have observed one on our estate cameras on three consecutive days.

“The UK has lost over 97% of its wetlands through drainage and changes in land management. Renewing existing wetlands and identifying opportunities to create new areas will help wildlife thrive, improve water quality, reduce flood risk and create more resilient landscapes for future generations.

"At Holnicote we are developing a rich mosaic of freshwater habitat, including beaver wetlands, which provide an ideal refuge for not only species like the black-crowned night heron, but also wildlife including water voles, otters, pine martens, fish species and even white-tailed eagles.”

The wetland charity WWT lists the night heron as one of the birds that it predicts may become an established breeder in the UK, as ranges expand due to climate change.

The footage is one of a number of surprising moments captured on the National Trust’s wildlife cameras in recent months. Five livestreaming cameras have given viewers insights into the lives and behaviours of barn owls, guillemots, puffins, beavers, and pied flycatchers and blue tits across National Trust places.

In October, to viewers’ delight, cameras captured a beaver sneezing, attracting more than two million views.

Audio visual producer Lisa Gledhill, who co-ordinates the National Trust’s wildlife cameras, said: “One of the reasons it’s so difficult to see these herons is that they are nocturnal, but our live cameras give people an opportunity to see them without leaving home – and we know that’s something that really excites our audiences.”

Holnicote Estate Beaver & Wetlands Project Officer Jack Siviter added: “We are continuing to focus on wetland creation through our project work, as well as letting beavers modify and produce these habitats at scale.

“If we can do this successfully, we are likely to see more wetland specialists arrive at Holnicote, and who knows – night herons might continue to appear.”