Cinclus cinclus

Today's the day ........................ for a dip in the river

Can't resist blipping this dipper today. I know the quality of the photo is not of the best but these gorgeous birds don't hang about for long - and the light was fading.

I heard it before I saw it. The Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe describes it as - 'a succession of short, high, grating and explosive notes interspersed with liquid warbling ....' And so it was.

It gave me a little display of a lot of bobbing, followed by a dive into the freezing cold river, a bit of underwater swimming, back out on to the rock and then it flew off upstream.

Just a magic moment all round ..............!