The river looks in great shape after the winter floods!

Went down to the river yesterday on what was a glorious day. The sun was shining and the sky was blue and everything looked pretty good down there. Naturally I had my camera in my hand at all times so I came back with some half decent shots considering the drabness of the fauna at this time of year.

During my walk I saw Dipper, Gooseander, Chaffinch, Buzzard, Red Kite, Greylag Goose, Green Sandpiper and on the drive back home I spotted a Merlin! I walked from the Car Park Pool down river, over BP Hill and right down to the end of our beat. The river height was such that there were 2 rivers down the bottom, the second only just a stream and I did manage to get across it eventually without getting too wet as I only had my walking boots on! I sat and ate my lunch on the log and it was lovely, so was my lunch!

I do feel just a little bit guilty though about something that I did without thinking about the possible consequences. Whilst I was sat on the log a flock of very woolly sheep appeared in the field opposite on the other side of the river. Inquisitively they all came across the field to see what I was up to. As they were lining up to see what I was doing I thought that there was a potential picture there so I got my camera out and moved closer to the river to get a better shot. The problem was that they weren't all looking at me so I foolishly called them so they would look. The nearest sheep took my beckoning much more seriously than I had expected and literally launched himself off the bank straight into the river! The current took him or her downstream despite his attempts to swim back to his pals and we all know how thick sheep are don't we so you can guess that he finished up down near the rock face below the end of our beat. I saw him get out of the river, soaking wet, cold but still alive. He started eating the grass pretty much immediately he had got out. I felt terrible about it but at least he survived!

Other than for the sheep episode I thoroughly enjoyed the day!