Nice capture, well filmed. In my experience, herons, for all their size, are fairly shy birds and don't normally allow humans to get too close: this one seems to have settled on the bank and allowed you to almost get to it: it must be used to humans going along the towpath!
Having said that, I was 'buzzed' by a heron only today which swooped low over me as I was cycling. Perhaps it had plans to make a fish supper of me?
But it flew off.
As for
peasants pheasants, well I too have trouble with them flying low across my front wheel. PITA's.