Shocks from the River Piddle

About three weeks ago “puppy” and I were walking along the River Piddle with mind in neutral and spotted a Sea Trout (possibly a Salmon) the size of my leg. He waggled off at some speed upstream unimpressed by our appearance. Well that is one for the book I thought in March. A few days later we got another surprise. Crossing a small foot bridge, we saw it again, at least we thought at first; it rose to the surface, a long black “snakes head” appeared and kept on coming, launching itself vertically like a child’s toy rocket into the sky and flew off with puppy in hot pursuit across the water meadows some way behind. This was an adult cormorant in a very small river. A week later I discovered another surprise by the river bank. I believe the leftovers of an Otter’s breakfast. (see picture of the River here

http://www.dorsetphotos.co.uk/pictures/368,places,52,River-Piddle,4.html )

Spring is at last showing its signs, very late and it is fun to see my puppy “pointing” at bumble bees and toads in the garden. She is six months old and all she has seen so far in her short life is a long and cold winter.