Back to Nature

Been distracted for a week with commissions, and poor ND has had to suffer snatched walks.  But it was a nice day on Thursday so we took off with a couple of friends for a long wander.
I was overjoyed to spot this little beauty (though I couldn't get very close with ND charging about the river bank)












20 years ago there was so much wildlife along the banks of the Torne and in the surrounding fields and the last time I saw a kingfisher on there before this year was Boxing Day 1996.  There were huge heronries, Water Voles, Brown Hare in abundance and Tree Sparrows; large flocks of Lapwing, Yellow Hammers in every hedgerow, and I once heard (but never saw) a Grasshopper Warbler.  I doubt I'll ever see Tree Sparrows again but this little Kingy gives me some hope.

And ND came home with a prize!