Boy moved regally across the water in a bee-line toward my morning call to come and get his arthritis medicine, and was taken aback on his arrival, to find our ubiquitous heron at the water’s edge, seemingly hoping for some sort of treat too. The fact that a heron is so at ease up close to the swan and duck population has surprised more than a few people, and it’s such fun to watch him wading up and down in front of the cygnets, within a hand’s reach of people.

Even Boy seemed quite cool about the whole thing, floating alongside our elegant visitor. I moved slowly toward the two, hoping to get Boy to swim a little way along the shore, but for Mr. Heron even this was going too far; he spread his wings and flew upward.

Boy got his meds and I went back to the road, under the huge tree that shades that part of the walk. How was I to know that perched directly overhead in that tree was Bombardier Heron, targeting this very annoying human who had disturbed his morning peace. Forget the seagulls – their worst is a microdot compared to the Great Blue Heron. Suffice it to say that it’s now the next day, and I’m still discovering “fallout” in spite of massive cleanup operations!

So, when you’re planning a lovely autumn walk at the Lagoon, you too may enjoy the sight of the Swan-and-Heron Club, but take an umbrella – there’s more than rain up there!!