Sick heron

[snake]

I went out this morning for my normal jaunt with the dog and came across this old fella.
He was standing at the side of a ditch and very reluctant to move.
He was looking very hunched up, with drooping wings and untidy feathers, he is clearly feeling very poorly.
It is most unusual to get this close to a Heron on my patch, they are all very much wild birds.
Its my guess, he's destined for the great Heronry in the sky.

[Ruth Daniel]

Oh dear he does look rather sorry for himself doesn't he?
Maybe he was just conserving energy on this cold morning??? I'd like to think so.
Nice pic Snake.

[Ukwildlifeo]

poor thing. I have a bit of a soft spot for herons. Perhaps the cold, with the fish staying deeper and frozen over ponds have taken its toll

[tweetie pie]

aww. What a sad looking heron.

[Jim Ford]

It looks quite bright eyed and alert. I would think it's just conserving energy.

Someone I knew used to hand feed herons in icy weather with sardines. I'd be tempted to try it with 'your' heron.

Jim

[squishy]

i've seen plenty of herons like that, i think its probably just conserving energy for when there is some point in using it.

it doesn't look like its got any bad parasites in that shot at least.

[Hedge Witch]

I guess time will tell, I hope this poor bird makes it.

[Jason Green]

Aww, I love herons. He looks very bright-eyed, but his bill looks like it's seen a few other's...

I hope/think it's just conserving energy and knew it had nothing to fear of you, Snake

As for the plumage, it's just having a bad hair day It probably just 'puffed-up' following a dive and so they were wet/matted. He might have combed himself had you told him he was appearing on WAB!!!

One thing I will say is his feet/ankles look quite swollen, they don't look right. Maybe he's feeling a bit off due to an infection. Try your local wildlife rescue if you see him again, perhaps.