Grey heron spreading its wings while landing amid sprouting irises in a pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron landing in the appearance of a spectre in a shallow pond near Castricum, NL

Great white egret and grey heron flying together in a 'pas de deux' over a pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron flying over a pond with great black cormorants and ducks near Castricum, NL

All kinds of stuff going on in a tranquil pond - Scottish Highland cattle (two of them locking horns) and a grey heron doing a fly-by in an overgrown pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron stalking a female mallard preening itself in a shallow pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron roosting on a tree stump in a pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron carrying off a frog into the mist near Castricum, NL

Flying grace - a grey heron in flight over a pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron standing at the bank of a frozen forest stream near Castricum, NL

Juvenile grey heron standing in a shimmering pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron flying landing awkwardly amid stalks at the edge of a pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron landing with a sharp banking turn on an island in a pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron taking off from a little island in a pond near Castricum, NL

Stalking grey heron in a pond near Castricum, NL

Descent from heaven - spread wings of a grey heron while landing in morning light near Castricum, NL

Grey heron touching down near the bank of a pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron landing in a patch of irises in a pond near Castricum, NL

Grey heron with neatly combed feathers sitting in a marsh with neatly draped grasses near Castricum, NL

Grey heron in a kind of "low pass flyby" passing a herd of grazing horses near Castricum, NL