My little hide still remains in place and as the seasons come and go it becomes even more part of the landscape  on the brook. Tonight was good. Between football matches on TV, the odd spot of rain and my 10 month old granddaughter, I took a break and went and sat in it for an hour. I am glad I did because it's the first time that a Heron has been right in front of the hide……. literally 3 feet from me. This particular bird is interesting because as far as I can make out, it is a juvenile or, possibly a first year bird (which seems more likely). The plumage in young birds is quite different and also the colour of the beak is entirely yellow in an adult.  Eventually the bird, still oblivious of me, waded past and disappeared up stream without catching anything. Now that the vegetation is more overgrown around the brook, there  is more cover for species such as Heron which are in fact quite a shy and wary bird.  I have not seen the Kingfisher for over 3 weeks now which is a shame, nor Grey Wagtails but a Pied Wagtail has a nest somewhere nearby and is feeding young. It shows  its self constantly and I could not resist this photo below. When you are very close to a Grey Heron the thing that strikes you is the beak which is a very formidable weapon.

There has been a Red Footed Falcon around over the last 3 days, a very rare Falcon that occasionally shows up in the UK. I went on to the marsh at nearby Exminster where it has been seen but unfortunately there was no sign of it. It is always a dilemma when lovely rarities like this show up because who wouldn't want to see such a beautiful bird. The only problem is that rarities  of this  magnitude attract birding crowds from who knows where and peace is shattered until the object of all the attention disappears and things return to normal. I would much sooner, a thousand times over, sit quietly in my hide, or on the more enjoying the solitude and peace than being part of the unfortunate birding scrum that always ensues. Today was typical, the car park was full and people arrived in brightly coloured clothes asking if it had been seen….. for heavens sake, if you are going to be a birder, at least  wear something appropriate and not WHITE!  Sometimes whilst sat in my hide on Dartmoor,  I become aware of people a mile or so away making all sorts of commotion and I see them in bright clothes  and note the disturbance they make. When you consider that a bird's eyesight, particularly a bird of prey and cuckoo for example is so amazing, these people have no chance! What makes me smile to myself, as I sit hidden is, they have no idea that everything for miles around has been aware of them for the last 20 minutes or so, you can even hear the moor go silent until they have departed the scene! So if you are the bloke in that white tee shirt that spoke to me this morning then take note.