Heron Stand-off a heron eyes up two gulls
Often our estuary is busy at dawn, but quietens through the day as the birds move off to feed inland. Then, as dusk approaches on fine evenings, they may return, provided that the receding tide is making available an evening meal. It is easy to think these herons into a human consciousness; to see the bird to the left as taking the measure of the gulls, while the other heron continues its feeding, nevertheless giving moral support. In fact it seems unlikely that the herons and gulls are very concerned with one another. The heron’s patient fishing skills contrast too sharply with the gull’s more omnivorous scavenging approach. Food for one may only very occasionally be food for the other. In the evening calm, which falls over the estuary as the sun sets and the wind subsides, we love projecting, our human way in which to make us feel part of life around us.
Projection is commonly used to cover those (many) occasions on which we attribute to others, what is in fact a reflection of ourselves.
Low water in the Nith estuary, in south west Scotland, attracts many creatures, most notably birds. These waters are free of human interference, being both covered by protective orders, and, in any case, too difficult for human activity.
The picture was taken with a Sony DSC-RX10M3 on 07/03/2026 at 6.00. 1/400th at f/4.0 ISO rated at 250. Focal length: 600mm (35 mm equiv).
Saturday 9th May 2026
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