Grey Heron finds brunch - back on the local patch

I awoke to grey skies, no breeze and high humidity - it's stayed like that all day. (I do know that it's much better down in Cornwall though where the sun was shining - I'm reliably informed about this)

Undaunted I headed off to BushyPark. Jenny had told me they'd seen a couple of Common Terns over the fishing lake end of the water albeit it was now a few days ago - they weren't in evidence to day.

I'd come across this Grey Heron and watched it fascinated for well over half an hour - it was very intent on fishing for its brunch!

It had caught some little fish which disappeared down its throat with great speed but..... it then shot it's beak into the water and come up with this (I think its a young Perch!). I was waiting for it to raise its beak up to swallow it but instead it just paused briefly before flying off with it in its beak!!

(It looks better enlarged (by clicking on the picture) but not if you're squeamish)

Further along it was still looking for fish so I left him to it.

Several Red Deer hinds with their young and several enjoying the water.

Sometimes the best things to eat are just out of reach...

The ears of the young seem a disproportionate size to their head!

The young are now growing up and some have already lost their dappled appearance.

Further around the pond, at last I managed a reasonable dragon-in-flight picture

and some colour from the water lillies.

Signs of autumn perhaps...

What I thought would be a stroll with nothing much happening, I was pleasantly surprised. And it's still very humid!!