Natural World: My Halcyon River
Sunday 24 November, 6.25pm BBC2

Halcyon days: those long days by the river in the height of summer. Halcyon birds: the ancient Greek name for that most spectacular of British birds, the kingfisher.

This is the enduring story of a classic British river. Otters, kingfishers, lazy trout and dancing mayfly are seen through the eyes of a man who has known and loved it since he was a young boy. Charlie Hamilton James has worked as a photographer on this river for the past 14 years, since he was 13, and his passion for its beauty shines through every frame of this film.

Whilst filming, Charlie realised that for the first time since he has known his beloved river, the otter is returning to it. We share the thrill of this discovery one flooded spring night. As the year progresses, we witness Charlie's attempts to gain the trust of a female otter and her cubs so that he can film them as they learn how to survive in this new territory, much of which is now industrial. This has never been done before.

People love rivers but now they will never be able look at one in the same way. My Halcyon River offers a beautiful, and extraordinary look at what appears to be a perfectly ordinary river.

• Read the BBC Wildlife Magazine feature about the otters.

Watch a clip from Halcyon River 

View images from Halcyon River

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