Waiting. That’s what herons do. Ever patient, they stand in the shallows, or on a handy rock: maybe even in the low branches of a sturdy riverside tree. Immobile unless frightened by the sight of a human passing too nearby, they’ll stand and stand until suddenly …..stab! That long spear of a beak plunges down and secures a fish dinner.
Here’s one we spotted on the River Wharfe near Grassington a few months ago.
This second photo is a bit out of focus, but I like it anyway. I took it only about a fortnight ago, walking along the River Skell one evening. The heron cocked his head and regarded us with some interest. He didn’t fly away, but looked at us looking at him. That’s quite unusual. In the end he flew off, empty-beaked. Perhaps he hadn’t picked a good spot.
This week’s WordPress photo challenge is ‘waiting’. Apparently there is no challenge next week, so …don’t watch this space.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
Such elegant birds.
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They are, aren’t they? In flight, too.
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We have a couple herons here and I love watching them fly by at twilight–they look prehistoric. My mother had one, in Florida, who would walk right into their lanai and take a hot dog out of their hands . . .
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Wow. I never realised they could be so house-trained. We too have been watching one in recent evenings wheel over the pond , and plunge downwards in search of supper.
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They wait with such intensity and awareness don’t they! I like the green mossy-looking rock the heron has found to perch on.
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I think he liked it too. This particular heron was totally focused and intense, and didn’t find anything to eat while we had him in view. Him? Her? Dunno.
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Thanks for a lovely photo, and bringing up fond memories of Grassington… and the River Wharf.
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Oh, if you know Grassington and Wharfedale, it’s easy to have happy memories of them, isn’t it?
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Lovely. One of my favourite birds. Everything about them is inspiring. I have used their overall shape, their elegant, striking heads and their beautiful plumage patterns in my work. When they take off don’t they remind you of images of pterodactyls? You certainly can believe that birds evolved from dinosaurs.
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indeed you can. They can be a bit scary around small children, but I do agree about their elegance, especially in flight, and their colouring. You must have the same astonishing skeins round your way too, I’m guessing?
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I like these strange birds too, though they have eaten most of the fish in our pond!
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Our landlord dyes the water blue – not very blue – but apparently it baffles the herons so they can’t spot the fish. It seems to work ….
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How interesting! I must investigate this though I’m not sure if it would be feasible with our large wildlife pond.
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Hmm. Maybe not.
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The perfect illustration of waiting – a heron speciality!
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