Spot the heron (Where's Wally?)

Another walk with an old friend, this morning - Marie this time.  We share both age and exact birthday, and have known each other since the late 1970s.
We knew the weather forecast was for wet and cold weather, and had wrapped ourselves up accordingly.  We walked down the Rivelin Valley trail, with its wonderful mixed woodland and traces of 18th and 19th century metal-working:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Rivelin

It's generally very well-maintained by an active local conservation group.

I didn't take the camera, because of the rain... but what a missed opportunity this turned out to be. On the way down the valley, we noticed a heron on the river, and later saw it again on one of the big mill ponds. By the time we were walking back up, the heron was keeping us company, working his or her way up the river in search of food.  We got quite close.  But phone cameras weren't really up to the job, so you'll have to look hard in the main image for a bird whose camouflage is very effective in a river setting on a gloomy day.  I'll be back to those same spots another day, with the camera, to try my luck.

While we were watching the heron's progress, we caught up with a mum and  her junior school-age son who were also transfixed by this graceful, intent hunter.  We all got completely absorbed in standing quietly, watching, trying a phone photo or two when we could.  If you have to be off school and away from all your friends, there are occasional benefits...

On the theme of schools and children, I have been reading all the reports about the dismally inadequate food packages that some private companies have been supplying to families who are entitled to free school meals replacements while schools are closed. I'm grateful to Jack Munro, Marcus Rashford, Angela Rayner and others who have been kicking up a fuss about it. These companies have been taking £30 for a two week food supply and, in some cases, delivering food worth less than £10.  Into whose pockets is the balance going? We all know the answer to that, sadly.