The heron seen standing at the side of the A27 Shoreham flyover surprised and worried many motorists (The Argus, October 30).

The usual sighting of a heron is poised by or in water, trying to catch a meal of fish or frogs.

If we see any wild animal in an alien setting, we think there must be a problem but this is not always the case.

Herons can be seen in dry habitats looking for food other than fish. They are known to stalk voles in rough pastures and have been seen walking in a newly ploughed field eating earthworms.

Occasionally, a heron will seek food on a wide verge of a motorway, oblivious to the passing traffic. When food is short, herons will take dead food and have on rare occasions been seen pecking at a carcass by the roadside.

I suspect this heron has learned that an easy meal is available on the A27 in the form of wildlife road victims. Let us hope his dicing with death does not cause him to end up as a meal for some other form of wildlife.

-Gloria Wheatcroft, The Drive, Hove