It was a nice morning, if a bit windy, and R and I had some shopping to do, so we went into Stratford, where I was also able to take some time out at the river, photographing the Migrant Hawkers around Lucy’s Mill Bridge. There were more of them about than I’ve seen on any other visit to the site this season – maybe ten loose males, as well as a couple of pairs in cop – and despite the breeze, photography was pretty easy. I did find myself wondering if I could possibly come up with any kind of new take on this late-season dragonfly, but as it turned out, I needn’t have worried. I do have something a little different to say here, and it’s this:
“AAAAARRRGGGHHH!!! DON’T EAT HIM!!!! YOU VILE BIRD!!!”
Don’t get me wrong, I like a Grey Heron as much as the next dinosaur-lover, but I think we can all agree that this is unacceptable behaviour. This is a juvenile as well – evidenced by the lack of plumes on its head and breast – so it’s got no business being so fast that it can snatch a Migrant Hawker out of the air. Luckily it soon realised that I was standing under the road bridge pointing a camera at it, and took off towards the marina, leaving the remaining Migrants of Lucy’s Mill to go about their important business unmolested.
Not such a big bird now, eh, Heron? Well – except in the literal sense, obviously.
