Where two rivers meet it appeared - a blue flare. Where The Roch, on its journey from Chelburn Moor near Todmorden, fuses in a swirl with The Irwell is where we glimpsed him.
Not one, but two brief encounters. Azure and emerald, a kingfisher whizzed past, then returned a minute later to vanish into a bolt hole in the river bank.
This spectacular painting of the air was not in The Ribble Valley - but a mile and a half from Junction 17 of the M60 - one of the busiest motorway roundabouts in the region.
Despite living in Whitefield for 19 years, it is only now, when taking my hourly exercise walk, that I have discovered beauty on my doorstep.