Herons flying at night

[Andyvon]

This was a surprise tonight.

I've just returned from my 6 mile walk which I do every night. I leave the town on a main road, walk through a nearby village and then walk back to town on an unlit country road. There's a small car park halfway along the country road and that's the only place where there's any light. Tonight was very still and as I arrived at the car park I heard a whistling sound above me. I looked up and saw a heron passing about 15 feet over my head! I could see the bird against the low cloud and it had just flown across the surrounding fields which are completely dark. The heron then flew across the car park about 20 feet above the ground in a stately and relaxed manner with very gentle wing beats. It then disappeared across the fields on the other side of the car park which are also totally dark.

We have the canal nearby as well as the River Thame so we see plenty of herons but I was surprised to see one flying at night in almost complete darkness across the fields. Maybe that's why so many birds fly into pylons and cables. Was this sighting unusual or more common than I think?

[wildwood]

Birds flying after darkness is a lot more common than you think. It is mainly within 2 hours after dusk and 2 hours before dawn though. There are ofcourse exception like owls and migrating birds.
They have not developed the sense to watch out for power pylons and lines.

[boxtops]

what a wonderful experience, andyvon!

[Count-A-Strong]

We quite often get skeins of Geese flying over in the dark.

[Andyvon]

Hi,

Sorry I wasn't able to get back sooner. Birds being active at night isn't as unusual as I thought then. WE have 6 budgies but they always stay quiet and sleep at night. I do often hear smaller wild birds singing in the middle of the night and I know many birds fly at night when they are migrating. However, those fly quite high and this heron was very low - just over my head. He or she was obviously flying more carefully than those I see in the daylight as it was only beating it's wings gently. It had approached from the dark fields and flew away across more darkened fields opposite.

Thanks for the answers everyone.