Today I decided that I needed to really cut back on the watercress in the pond. It had taken over completely and there was hardly any clear water showing between all the plants. Also duckweed has invaded all other spaces so it was about 95% covered. The bogbean has only had one flower on it so that is also something that needs a massive cutback. Anyway it started to rain so I decided to do my housework before attempting the pond.
As I finished the housework I looked out of the kitchen window to see if it had stopped raining when I saw a grey bird on the pond wall. I wondered what it was for a second and as I reached the back door I could see it clearly. It was bent over but when it straightened up I realised that it was a Heron..... I opened the back door to shoo it away and it turned round and set off away over the rooftops. Thank goodness I came at that moment as I can imagine that my fish would have all been eaten if I hadn't.
It was the first time that one has come into my garden. I am hoping that the noise from the door and the fact that it didn't get anything to eat will be all it needs not to come back, but I will have to keep a lookout now.
It was a lovely sight though and I would have been very happy to see one if I had been at Fairburn Ings or some other nature reserve, but just not in my back garden. I just hope it reached somewhere where it would have been able to eat without any problem.