There is a long winded but interesting story behind the series of shots I'm going to bring you that will probably make a certain Hansegirl very jealous. So here goes then...
I was sitting in my hide at my newly erected photography feeding station in the back garden (which overlooks one of our ponds too, in the hope I may eventually get some shots of birds drinking). There wasn't much doing because it's in a new location different to my regular feeding site and the birds are still refusing to give up the old one so I have to put food out at both. The way my pop-up hide is set up I can view both areas at the same time and as nothing was doing at the new feeding station I moved my camera and tripod to face the old one and was happy just watching the birdies when they all suddenly flew off and I thought I heard briefly the sound of some large wingbeats outside the door of my my hide, which I now know was true. First thought was a Sparrowhawk but being trapped in my hide was a nightmare because I couldn't see what was going on and if I unzipped the door it'd scare whatever it was away. So leaning back on my chair and very carefully unzipping the window behind me I created a little gap with which to look out from and slowly something walked into view and it was indeed this Grey Heron, only 8 feet or so away from where I was sat. So I continued watching with utter fascination and equal amounts of frustration because my camera was ponting out the wrong end of the hide! It seemed to know something was watching it and kept giving me quick glances but otherwise was happy to stalk and peer in the pond to see if a meal could be had (I should point out though we don't have any fish in our ponds). After 10 or so minutes he decided nothing was doing and circled round behind the pond to walk over to our second pond which I knew gave me the chance to re-position myself and my gear to hopefully get some shots. So with care and baited breath I manouevered myself and unzipped the window just enough to poke my lens out by which time the Heron had walked round the back of the other pond and was surveying the scene. In this photo he was leaning down into the pond and sort of probing around with his beak but as you can see he spotted something and quickly struck to secure himself a snack, a snack which I was shocked and upset that he had managed to catch. Alas, you'll have to wait until the next photo to find out what it was... ;)
Phew...I don't know how Manjeet does it!
