Be'dew'elled

Another lovely start to the day.  I'm struggling to make sunrise (it's currently 4:47 am in this part of the UK), but it didn't stop me going for a walk first thing before breakfast.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky, yet within two hours a blanket of cloud enveloped the area and never really gave up its grip on the day.

I walked straight past the local heron, perched on a branch in the middle of the canal.  Only looking back I realised why; the vegetation on the edge of the towpath had provided a convenient cover for him.  I tried retracing my steps but as ever, just as I was raising the camera to my eye, he took off and flew away.

Other fauna highlights included a young rabbit seemingly oblivious to my presence, though on checking the camera his left ear was pointing straight at me.  I also came across a young coot (cootling?) preening itself in the morning sun.  Just check out its toes, they're incredibly long.  In the end, despite only having the 200-500mm lens with me I did this close up of a daisy, complete with the morning dew giving it a rather bejewelled look.