Near the bridge across the river on the path to Ashton there’s a channel between the millpond and the main river itself. About three years ago there was a dramatic amount of clearing and felling there, which made me sad at the time. But after a couple of growing seasons it now looks much better.
It seems to have turned into a magnet for herons. As I drew level with the opening from the river yesterday there were both a great and a little egret glowing white and bright against the dull mud and winter branches towards the pond.
Both took off – the little egret weaving through the branches, and the great egret making a tight spiral upwards till it was met by another flying in from the meadows. There were some clacking sounds – rather like a glug-glug-glug a human might make at the back of the throat – and then the elegant pair winged off upriver.
While I was watching this I hadn’t noticed there was a grey heron there too, hiding in still plain sight. It took off with an exasperated Crrrraaak!
When I went back today there was just the little egret. But in the trees above were four ravens. Two flew off over Oundle, while the others took off towards Ashton. I could hear one calling from one of the tall pines as I walked back along the road.
Leave a Reply