Rare night heron spotted on Somerset estate after river restoration

Somerset: A rare black-crowned night heron has been spotted at the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate, where conservationists have restored the River Aller to its natural course.

The bird was filmed on estate cameras for three days in a row. Project manager Ben Eardley said it’s a scarce UK visitor and likely drawn in because the estate remains wet while much of southern England is dry.

The “river reset” — inspired by projects in Oregon — let the river spill out to form pools, streams and boggy areas. That has boosted insects, fish and amphibians, and attracted more wildlife including white-tailed eagles, white storks, cranes, otters and beavers.

With 90% of England’s wetlands lost over the last 500 years, Eardley said the surge in birds shows “an ecosystem getting more diverse” and that the estate is acting as a refuge.