Walking through the orchard at Fountains Abbey early yesterday, I came upon this heron, not 10 feet away. He was unconcerned about me, and spent his time alert for a breakfast meal. He found three courses during the time I watched him – about 20 minutes. This video shows him enjoying just one of them.
It’s my last (and first) video of the month. My last shot of the month is also one of the heron, and is my featured photo. I was quite fed up that I only had my bargain-basement phone with me, rather than my camera. Never mind.
For Brian’s Last on the Card

… and IJK’s Bird of the Week.
Excellent footage! I love herons.
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I do too. And I’ve never before known one allow me to be so close.
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Who’d be a fish, hey? I love the still watchfulness of herons. Great video! Another skill I don’t possess xx
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I just point and shoot. I have no idea about editing videos though.
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If that’s just a third of his breakfast then he really frontloads on the proteins
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Absolutely! I rather thought a vole, a fish, and … I dunno. But I guess they take their chances when they can and may fast for hours too.
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Oh, brilliant! Great video capture, and as you say, lucky you were able to get so close to that heron
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A real star, that one.
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😄
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Great capture. You and the heron. The fish would probably disagree.
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The fish was unavailable for comment.
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A very focused heron, I see the same focus when my cat hunts 😀
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Absolutely!
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I’m very fond of herons. They’re often somewhere on the well-used towpath I regularly walk along, too focused on breakfast to be bothered by us walkers and even dogs. They’re beautiful close up.
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I always find them very shy of humans. This one was therefore a real surprise
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So calm and watchful and then… strike. Breakfast is served!
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So purposeful! They deserve a good feed.
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I enjoy watching Herons and their slow motion stalking. A good hunter that one. Perhaps the first video for Last on the Card 🤔
Thanks for joining in Margaret 😀
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I couldn’t not, with that sighting, could I?
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Pity you didn’t have your real camera
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I know. Ah well. At least I had something.
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True
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Great video! I love watching herons hunting for fish. They stand so still then move so quickly 😯
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They’re incredible aren’t they? Great birds.
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What a wonderful video! I often see herons by the canal or river but they are usually just at the standing stock still phase. I’ve never seen one actually catch anything.
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This was a first for me.
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Well captured – both of you!
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Especially the heron ….
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There is such grace, elegance and patience in a heron’s movement.
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Even more than in a cat’s I think, in this case.
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