Rare night heron spotted in Shotesham in Norfolk

A black-crowned night heron was captured by Jim Moore while on a family walk in Shotesham All Saints.

It was seen next to Stubbs Green Pond at 10am on Sunday, May 21. 

The bird is a type of medium-sized heron often seen in North America in estuaries and marshes.

There are only 22 sightings of the heron in the UK each year. 

READ MORE: Rare bird spotted in Norfolk near the Beeston Bump

Jim Moore said: "While my wife Joy kept the dogs on leads away from the pond I crept round the pond to try and get a clear shot of this greyish bird sitting in a bush above the water.

"It stayed there for a couple of minutes then flew away.

The bird was difficult to photograph and described as 'shy' by photographer Jim Moore (Image: Jim Moore)

"It wasn't until I got home and downloaded my pictures and researched the bird ID did I find out what it was and how rare it was."

In April, a Hoopoe was spotted near Sheringham, causing excitement for bird spotters across the county. 

A spokesman for the Norfolk Ornithology Association described it as an "exciting and unusual" find.