A-Z Challenge 2018 - British Rivers: 'O' Ouse, Otter

There are several British rivers named Ouse from the Sanskrit word for water. The Great Ouse is the longest at 160 miles but it is the North Yorkshire Ouse with which I am most familiar.

This is a continuation  of the River Ure; the Ure/Ouse combination at 129 miles makes it the sixth longest in the UK. Tributaries include the Aire and the Nidd (earlier Challenge entries). Its catchment areas drain much of the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorks Moors.

Map of the River Ouse and its catchment area

The Ouse and the River Trent combine to form the Humber Estuary (see A-Z 'H'.)

As the city of York knows to its cost the Ouse is prone to severe flooding. York is a place that we know well but again I have only one decent photo of the river as it flows through the city.

River Ouse in York - 2006

There are many bridges over the river that give great opportunities for photography.

The Ouse from Skeldergate Bridge with the Ouse Bridge in the background.

Shame I haven't taken any.

I have chosen the Somerset/Devon River Otter because of its name. It's only c20 miles long from its source to where it runs into the English Channel at Lyme Bay on the Jurassic Coast.

River Otter near Otterton

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1771-18340 wrote the 'Sonnet to the River Otter'.

Dear native brook! wild streamlet to the West!

How many various-fated years have past,

What happy, and what mournful hours since last

I skimmed the smooth thin stone along thy breast,

Numbering its light leaps! yet so deep imprest

Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes

I never shut amid the sunny ray,

But straight with all their tints thy waters rise,

Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey,

And bedded sand that, veined with various dyes,

Gleamed through thy bright transparence! On my way,

Visions of childhood! oft have ye beguiled

Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs:

Ah! that once more I were a careless child!

I wonder if he wrote that today whether he would also sing the praises of the beavers that have reappeared in the river in recent years. The Otter is the only river in England known to have a breeding population of this industrious animal.

Mouth of the River Otter at Budleigh Salterton

The pebble beach and cliffs at Budleigh Salterton are part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

Photo attributions:

• River Ouse - catchment area map: 5 March 2014 ex Ordnance Survey OpenData by Nil j Fanion - CC BY-SA 3.0 licence
• River Ouse in York from Skeldergate Bridge: 30 September 2007 by Chris Wood - CC BY-SA 3.0 licence
• River Otter near Otterton: 30 July 2008 by Liz Moon - CC BY-SA 2.0 licence
• Mouth of River Otter at Budleigh Salterton: 18 March 2012 by Barry Lewis - CC BY 2.0 licence,

Favourite Photos of the Year - Thematic Photography

In picking my favourite photos of 2013 I have tried to avoid shots that have appeared on Thematic Photography before. But in working through the year I just had to start with one you have seen already.

White Frost - January 2013

We get a variety of birds in our garden throughout the year. In April this cock bird was taking a stroll over a flowerbed.

Cock Pheasant - April 2013

One of the most colourful birds we see is the bullfinch not that you can view it in all its glory in the next shot I've chosen.

Bullfinch in Conifer - May 2013

Next I have chosen a shot of a single flower - the only one of this type we have,

Alium - June 2013

At the end of August we set out to visit our daughter in Michigan. I have shown many pictures of her dogs over the year but my next picture reminds me that three weeks before we travelled, she lost Cody the oldest of her four dogs.

Cody before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge

While in Michigan in September we visited Detroit Zoo. A series of my favourite photos of the animals appeared in Treasured-thematic-photography.

Away from the zoo I came across this chap, one of the biggest I've seen - the metal frame he is hanging on to is 3-4 inches deep.

Grasshopper - September 2013

Back home when we visited York I could not resist taking the next shot.

'Dog' doing what comes naturally - York, November 2013

When it came to Christmas Day a jewel took pride of place.

Ready to Ring in the New

All that remains is for me to wish Carmi and all Thematic Photographic contributors a Prosperous and Happy New Year.

For more favourites don't forget to visit Carmi at Thematic-photographic-275,

Thematicless - Thematic Photography

Carmi has given us thematic photographers a rest this week and suggested that we just go out and take some shots.

Those of you who have followed me here know that dogs have often figured in my posts. So here is one I caught doing what dogs do naturally,  in York earlier this week.

A Yorkshire dog

At least he has been well groomed, even if not trained where not to cock his leg.

Thanks to Carmi for letting us off the leash this week at Thematicless.

What light through yonder window breaks? - Thematic Photography

When I saw Carmi's window theme this week I knew I would not have to look far for what I had to post. The question was where to stop.

This first shot was taken looking out of a window in Cornwall where the light really did break through.

St Mawgan interior

A windows theme would not be complete without some stained glass.

Lady Chapel - St Mawgan church

And one much nearer home.

Shorthorn cattle - Kirklevington Parish church

Shorthorn cattle were made famous by Thomas Bates who lived and died in the village.

Moving to the USA I came across these windows at the entrance to the Ford Museum.

Ford Museum, Dearborn, Michigan

Back to Europe for the view of a public building alongside some less imposing panes.

Brussels Royal Opera House

While we are on the subject of the arts, this is a very modern place.

Inside Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima)

Finally a much older building which took my fancy which has a window or two.

Timber building at York

For other, possibly clearer, views of windows get your wash leather out and visit Carmi's thematic photographic 221.