Heron(s)

J. and I went for a walk along the millrace around 5 p.m. We spotted a heron under one of the little footbridges! J. wanted to pose me for a photo on the bridge with the heron below, but s/he must have gotten wind of what we were thinking and flew, wings spread wide, low over the millrace to the next bridge. So I stood on top of that one for photos. After a bit, the bird flew a few yards further east, and we followed. The heron then started hunting, craning its neck from side to side, stepping slowly forward, then the big beak would dart into the water and come up full.

We walked alongside the heron for quite a while. The spread bluish grey wings were so big and beautiful, every time the bird wanted to move further along. Then we left the heron and walked along the path a while further and then found... another heron. It could have been the same one, stealthily catching up and passing us, but I don't think so. There were plenty of little fish, but if the herons ever got as far as the spot where the road crosses the millrace, they'd be thrilled to find the medium-sized fish and the moderately-big fish. J. and I did walk down there to see the fish, and there was in fact a bird fishing there, but it was no bigger than a crow and couldn't have caught the big ones.