iN VIDEO: Disgruntled heron squawks at kayaker in South Okanagan

A blue heron at Yellow Lake near Penticton appeared to be frustrated with a local videographer floating by on a kayak earlier this week.

Courtney Robinson was floating by the bird standing on the grassy shoreline when it suddenly took to the air with a honk and guttural sound, and wide, flapping wings.

“I guess I entered the danger zone, or was too close for his comfort. I wasn’t trying to disturb him,” she said. “They don’t sound as nice as the look.”

Robinson’s footage of the scene is filled with the sounds of nature, the lapping water and birds chirping, and shows the majestic bird crouch down and take to the air, flying low above the surface of the shimmering lake.

Great blue herons are common in the lower mainland and southern part of the province. They are found along shorelines, riverbanks and the edges of marshes, according to All About Birds.

The birds are tall and stately looking with blue-gray plumage, and will stand motionless for long periods of time scanning for prey on the water. Thanks to specially shaped neck vertebrae, the herons can quickly strike prey at a distance.

In flight, the herons have wide wingspans, tucked in necks and long legs trailing behind.

Robinson is has been capturing footage of wildlife with photographs and videos for several years in the Okanagan and beyond.

“The wildlife is rich and diverse in the Okanagan, I’m amazed by the variety of animals that call this region home,” she said. “It’s always exciting to showcase the beauty and biodiversity that exists so close to home.”

Go here to see more of Robinson’s work.