Hop-A-Long-Heron - a photo on Flickriver

Hop-A-Long-Heron

            Over the River Mole as it flows through Leatherhead I came across this heron doing a balancing act on a rather substantial branch over the water . I don't think this is really a hop-a-long-heron , just one doing it's impersonation of Ian Anderson , but  not sure how it will manage to play the flute whilst standing on one leg !!

Rising south west of Crawley, the River Mole flows northwards towards the Thames. In its upper reaches, it has an extensive network of tributaries including the Gatwick Stream, the Stanford Brook and the Burstow Stream.

As it flows downstream, it passes through the historic Norbury Park before flowing through Leatherhead and eventually joining the Thames at Molesey, opposite Hampton Court Palace.

There are a variety of designated sites for wildlife present across the Mole Catchment including Norbury Park, Nutfield Marsh and Surrey Hills AONB. The River Mole contributes significantly to the ecological and landscape value of these sites.

The South East Rivers Trust co-hosts the catchment partnership for the Mole with the Surrey Wildlife Trust .
The Mole is famous for its spectacular river cliffs near Box Hill that have formed over thousands of years and receive many visitors. It is also famous for its swallow holes where the river, at times of low flow, disappears underground before emerging further downstream. These swallow holes have long excited the curiosity of travellers and poets through the ages.

The poet Edmund Spencer wrote:
“Mole that like a Mousling mole doth make His way still underground, till the Thames he overtake”

The Mole is an important recreational resource and is used for angling, kayaking and walking. The Mole Gap walking trail is a particularly popular route starting at Leatherhead and following the route of the Mole for 10 km finishing at Dorking.

Taken in: UK / England / Mole Valley / Leatherhead (show map)

Taken on: March 9, 2024

Tags:

river-mole

leatherhead

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Sets appears in: • FZ10002 • OddShots more » • On The Water • Nature & Landscape • Street scenes • wildlife • birdlife « less

Groups appears in: • Beautiful Surrey photography • RSPB Love Nature more » • Surrey Bird and Wildlife • [][][]100%PERFECT[][][] • Surrey Live • ALL PANASONIC CAMERAS! • New Ipernity Survivors • ♣My Hat's Off to You!! • Amateur Photographer Magazine • THE IMAGINATIVE CAMERA • flickr world wide • Nature world wide • Images including a geotag or location • Feathers Galore • CAFE TIME FOR FRIENDS • Ipernity Survivors • I ♥ Nature ╰⊰⊹✿ • Rivers world wide • Interesting Nature • Flickr Photo Album Unlimited & Instant Posting • Lumix FZ1000 II 2019 • Paint a Picture • Show your EXIF • Snapshots - world wide « less

Camera: Panasonic DC-FZ10002, f/4.0, 1/160 sec, 143.2mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DC-FZ10002
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/160)
Focal Length:	143.2mm
ISO:	125
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Ver.1.0
Show full info

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