THE neighbour of Michael and Hazel Larrett of Flexbury Park Road, Bude, supplied the Post with the image of this ‘monster’.

The large bird, that they believe is a heron, confronted the couple when they were in their kitchen having breakfast. It was caught looking in their kitchen window and was seen to have visions of taking one of the koi carp in their fairly deep garden pond for its dinner — although he was not successful.

It continues to pay regular visits to the Larretts’ garden, but thanks to the installation of pond netting laid between bamboo poles, by Mr Larrett, its efforts to steal one of their fish for its supper have been thwarted.

Can any keen bird watcher confirm or identify the species of bird that has been a frequent visitor to that area of Bude?