We have a new inhabitant at Falmer Pond, a young heron. It was there this morning when I arrived, quietly minding its own business among the mass of herring gulls.
Unlike the adult herons it has yet to develop an appropriate wariness of people, though it did wade out into the water when things got a little busy.
You might have thought a heron would be fairly safe out there, but as you can see here something startled it.
That something is a gull.
After being buzzed several times, discretion took over and the heron retreated to a more sheltered perch.
Later in the day I caught its somewhat inept attempts at fishing. It doesn't matter how many times you grab and drop a stick, it remains a stick. The giveaway with fish is that they move! 
Still, it seemed quite relaxed about it all.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
gdare
18 May 2012Nice bird. They say there is a big colony of herons on Stanley Park in Vancouver but I haven't seen them yet. Only single bird here and there.
derWandersmann
18 May 2012He's delightful, Words. It's good you were able to follow him for so long.
anonymous
18 May 2012Anonymous writes:
LOL! What a cute bird (in it's own funny-looking way) and what an excellent little series of pictures of the Great Blue!!
Marilyn
SittingFox
22 May 2012It is rather cute, and rather confused about life, it seems! Someone should tell it that it isn't a beaver (eating sticks!)
Words
23 May 2012Darko, thanks! A large colony of herons is quite a sight. Fantastic to see during nesting season in particular.
Words
23 May 2012Adele, it was persistent with the stick. It was one of those ridiculous routines where it would grab the stick, drop it, the stick would move in the water because it had been dropped. Grab the stick… etc. He'll figure it out eventually.:D
Words
23 May 2012Marilyn , thanks. This is actually a Grey Heron, a close relative of the Great Blue, but slightly smaller. Pretty young thing though, and a joy to watch.
Words
23 May 2012dW, I'm glad he was well behaved for the day. He's not been back since, but you can never be sure that they won't return.
derWandersmann
23 May 2012Like the chap who reaches down for his hat, and simultaneously kicks it.
Words
24 May 2012😀