grey heron

Even inner city canals can provide an environment in which birds can thrive

I'd been sitting in the hide for about an hour when I became aware of this Heron standing quite closeby I can't imagine that it could have got there without me seeing it so it must have been there all the while As soon as it realised it had been spotted it flew off

My latest garden tick, I think this guy stopped to have a look at our pond, most of the local lakes and ponds are frozen over making it difficult for water birds to find food No fish in our pond so he didn't stay long. Taken through a double glazed door so focus is a bit soft

In water that was frozen a few hours earlier, this bird has just entered the water, probably unable to move hence the almost hypnotic stare due to the leg-numbing cold!

Grey Heron, i make this picture today. The place is a lake nearby Haastrecht.

Sitting as though frozen to the spot, (it was below zero), this heron looks at the rising sun almost pleadingly!

Grey Heron taking off. Shot from a long distance & cropped. Sorry, couldn't manage to get a portion of its feet in the frame. Not the greatest of efforts but still a bit satisfying to get in some details.

We got dropped off back at Craignure for the lunch time ferry. However, we decided to hang around and explore the area a bit.... it had stopped raining!! I'd been hoping to get the little puff-puff train to Torosay Castle, but sadly it no longer runs as the new castle owner didn't want it...

Grey Heron with Prey

This guy came really close, I guess so young he was born and raised in the people-dense park and therefore totally unafraid.

... apparently a good fishing spot, though I don't know what fish brave all the trash people have tossed into the pond. Maybe it combines and evolves rapidly resulting in plenty of new species of fish, species not (yet) afraid of herons?

At the other end of the telescope, a big Heron with a tiny fish. Different methods, different results.

It was still so hot, we decided to go back to the beach to cool our feet off in the water. The far side of the bay, I came across the heron stalking in the sea weed rock pools. I managed to get quite close to him somehow... must be used to people.