This is about a Grey Heron so if you are not into tall thin birds forget it. I have seen dozens of these but never one as tolerant of the camera, the dogs and me.
It is just a canal width away, reasonably happy.
Or so I thought, it thought otherwise and away it went.
It only went fifty yards and settled, how I can refer to anything making that awful racket as settled is beyond me!
Still it was happy enough for a good scratch.
That’s better.
Not for long. Again it only flew another few yards.
This time it was happier hiding behind a Thistle.
If you are not going to leave me alone I’ll have to ignore you and find some breakfast.
Just promise to keep quiet this is a serious business.
Got one…………………………………
And another.
That will do…………….time to wander off for a bit of peace.
It caught six fish but turned it’s back every time……still I shouldn’t grumble. I had a good hour of it’s company.
I’m sorry about the overkill. I know you proper orthodontists take hundreds of images, I also realize you have the wit not to post them all at once.
These were all shot from a tripod. They are not cropped so will stand a click.
That’s me! Up to Date!
A brilliant series Adrian. all I usually get is departing tail feathers.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I suspect it was a young one. I had my fair share of rapid departures. I have about fifty usable images. None with a salmon in it's beak. I suspect it is feeding on tiny Perch.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post Adrian... to see a Heron feeding is a privilege and takes patience.
ReplyDeleteGrey Heron has a lookout for grass snakes, and the field seems quite nice to them. Brilliant photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat set of pictures Adrian. I've seen 'tame' herons alongside urban canals (e.g. in Amsterdam and London) but never in rural surroundings. Our local birds are very wary...
ReplyDeleteNice photographs Adrian. Generally they are off like a shot but I have experienced a few tame ones that let you get quite close.
ReplyDeleteIn Stoke on Trent about 10 years ago I watched a Heron on a park lake island take a rat, walk into the lake and drown it and then swallow it. I can't recall if I took photos (surely I must have done but it was just pre-digital and I was on business) but I must make a note to see.
ReplyDeleteAwesome images of the Heron. I've seen them near creeks and rivers here, but never close up like yours.
ReplyDeleteGotta love herons.. and your wonderful images of them. Beautifully done, Adrian.
ReplyDeleteI like tall skinny birds. Never get tired of looking at a good heron shot.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I thought it was away. I was lucky.
ReplyDeleteBob, thanks, I've yet to see a snake this year or any reptiles.
Phil, I was very but pleasantly surprised at it's tolerance.
Trevor, they are usually away before I see them. I suspect the young ones are less wary.
Graham, there is not much they won't eat, amazing what they are capable of swallowing. Have a look for the rat images when you have time.
Horst, they usually let me within a hundred yards this one was content at a third that distance.
Hilary, I can watch them for ages. They stand abbout doing nothing for ages but remind me of Uriah Heap when they move.
Jolynne, Herons, Penguins. Tall and skinny, short and fat.......I love them all.
A great series Adrian. Certainly a young one by the looks of it. They are fascinating birds to watch, especially when they're tolerant of our presence.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant collection Adrian, ...first picture is AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day!
Great set, don't ever feel you have given this the overkill a it is so rare to watch them for longer than 10 seconds ... as they don't like me either. It's funny how it thinks that the thistle bush is protection.
ReplyDeleteI was on an activity weekend last month and whilst riding around a large lake on a bike, I spotted a Heron on a grass bank next to a stream in someones very large grass garden. It was a while since I had been on a bike and nearly fell off when I tried to stop quickly as I passed it. I returned the 30 yards or so to see if I could photograph it and thankfully it was still there. As I was getting the camera out of the bag, it still hadn't flown off but then I realised that I had been "had" when I noticed the join between it's head and neck !!
Keith, thanks, A good bird.
ReplyDeleteClaudia, thank you.......
Jay, a once in a lifetime hour. Don't feel too bad about your heron.........I spent ten minutes trying to get a shot of a carrier bag......it looked like an owl to me.