Kingly Beauty

Must admit to being absolutely thrilled with my blip today - went out for a walk because I needed a walk, but with little hope for much of a photo - such a dull day, and a place I walk often.

And then, and then... looked across the stream in Newhall, and saw this fellow on the other side. I've caught glimpses of him at various times, but not much more than a flash of iridescent blue... fumbled with the camera with frozen fingertips, and just managed this before he swooped away down the stream.

And would just like to say to Stephen Fry, "If there is no God, how do you explain this sort of beauty?"