morning walking 1

Sometimes as this morning a walk becomes life enhancing. The mist in the valley was just lifting as the day warmed up. The first thing we saw was the brilliant flash of blue of a kingfisher, and although we did not realise it at the time (at least maybe subliminally we did) he posed on a branch while we photographed the river. Then the meadows were full of butterflies. Usually fritillaries are very nervous but today they seemed oblivious to our presence. It quickly became clear that it was mating day and the air was full of males fighting for the attention of a few ragged females. Apart from the barrel rolling flight which is very difficult to photograph, we saw a male and female land together and the male embark on a trembling wing display before mating. And then on the way home we found some very fresh otter spraint. And the sun was out. And all was well with the world.