ONCE the high winds and rain have left us there will be some wonderful birdwatching to be had.

We should all take care, however, not to disturb the birds.

They will all be tired and hungry after the buffeting they have endured and we should use binoculars and watch them from a distance. I recently walked from Sawley and followed the footpath alongside the Ribble.

Within a mile I saw a kingfisher skimming along the river and a pair of goosanders were displaying.

The female holds her head and neck parallel to the water.

Her head is brown and her body is grey.

The male displays by swimming around the female and diving regularly close to his prospective mate.

The head of the male is green and the body predominantly white.

From the river there are views of the 12th century ruins of Sawley Abbey itself overlooked by the whale-like hump of Pendle.

The monks made good use of their environment and on the Ribble they had important fisheries. The monks also had fish ponds in which they farmed carp and other fish.

The idea of fish farming, which we often think is new, in fact dates back many centuries.

Our ancestors made great use of our native plants and during my stroll I was on the lookout for the first signs of spring.

I found hazel and alder catkins but in general it seems as if spring is just a little late this year.

I wonder if Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers have an opinion about the first signs of spring, also mentioned in the Spy section of this column.

Riverside plants are important because they help to stabilise the banks.

The strength of the current of a river is not much in evidence in hot, dry weather.

On days of wind, heavy rain or at times when the snow is melting the water erodes the banks.

The roots of trees such as alder and willow bind the soil together.

Those who help to manage rivers need to bear all these factors in mind.

The best river manager in the world is Mother Nature, although many people point to the damage done by floods, which costs a lot in insurance.

This is because we build on the flood plains of rivers and over the centuries and this has led directly to our present day flood warnings.

The Ribble between Sawley and Gisburn is a delight whatever the weather but I must admit that I found the brief spell of watery sunshine very welcome.