Spare Time at a Wedding

James was playing at a wedding in Sawbridgeworth and so I had three hours spare before I had to pick him up, so where to go. Not enough time to venture down to the Essex coast, so I opted for a return visit to Fowlmere. As soon as I stepped out of the car it was apparent that the site was a lot quieter than my previous visit with many of the summer visitors already departed. Even the residents were only evident in small numbers and the even Barn Owls by the Reed Bed Hide were asleep.

It was also quiet on the mere in front of the Reed Bed Hide itself with the only activity of note being a distant Water Rail feeding along the edge of the reed bed. Then to save the day, a Grey heron flew in and landed in front of the hide. The first photo shows it either listening for fish or cocking its head on one side to get a better view.

Eventually, after a few minutes without a single fishing attempt, it decided to change position and flew across the mere showing its enormous wing span.