Sentry like

This not so little fella, a grey heron stands guard over the famous duck pond at the northern end of Ruislip High Street and doesn't seem to move very far.
The duck pond, once known as the Horse Pond is part of Ruislip's historic Manor Farm which is Hillingdon's flagship heritage and culture site, dating from the 13th century and which houses a unique collection of community spaces, historic buildings, archaeological remains and landscape features in 22 acres of beautiful grounds.
It is unlikely that there are fish in the pond for this tall wading bird with long legs and a long neck to prey on, but as home to a raft of ducks there are usually plenty of titbits from visitors intent on feeding them, despite the public notices urging visitors not to.
But you'll find grey herons settling around any kind of water, be it garden ponds, lakes or river. See them in flight and you might well mistake one for a large bird of prey and in a manner of speaking that's what they could be termed and the RSPB says it is not unknown for them to feed on small birds such as ducklings, as well as lots of fish, and they also have a penchant for small animals that you'll find near ponds such as voles or other amphibians, and at harvest time you might also find them circling fields looking for rodents.
But see them standing proud like this on the edge of a pond, commanding everything around and in the water, it is almost a sentry post for the bird world.