Heron eating a crab photo

The heron was photographed at the RSPB site in Silverdale, Lancashire, by David Poole. Mr Poole said: "Herons are one of my favourite birds and I was amused to see it catch this crab while photographing it fishing. I couldn't believe my eyes when it gulped it straight down in one!"

The heron is one of the UK's largest native birds and grey herons are also common around garden ponds. They can be seen all year round and until September they could still be breeding too.

The heron is an unmistakable grey and white bird with a huge wing span, long legs and neck and a powerful beak. In flight, with a kinked neck, it has a touch of the pre- historic about it and resembles a pterodactyl. Despite its size, many people will have never seen a heron. There are less than 15 thousand pairs in the UK and the RSPB says that to have one in your garden is actually quite an honour.

How to keep herons from your garden pond
Herons are best known for eating fish, but sometimes they will vary their diet with more unusual creatures, such as frogs and water voles. RSPB says that although pond owners have mixed emotions about them because of their fishing prowess, there are ways to enjoy both your fish-filled pond and herons.

Plenty of plants, both floating and submerged are a good repellent as they will give the fish hiding places. You could add to these by sinking suitably sized pipes in the water to create a fish refuge so they will be very difficult for herons to see let alone catch.

A trip wire around the pond will prevent the heron from landing and then walking towards it. Thick vegetation close to the pond will also make access difficult and this too would attract all manner of other wildlife from insects to birds.

Plastic herons - May attract more herons
One solution that almost certainly won't work is a widely available plastic heron. Herons often feed close together and they may even be attracted by a static replica!