IT WAS the right day to visit Catcott Low nature reserve on the Somerset Levels. But as I pulled into the small car park, blue skies appeared and my spirits were lifted.

Making my way to the bird hide I could hear the distinctive whistling of widgeon and the ‘Peewit’ calls of lapwing. Entering the hide, I noticed a group of bird watchers all laughing and chatting together, and for a second I felt like I was gate-crashing on some private party. I sat down on a bench and started talking to one of the birders, and before long I was one of the group.

Scanning the water with my binoculars, I saw some teal ducks, with their beautiful fluorescent green markings, along with shoveler ducks, easily recognisable by their broad flat bills from which the bird gets its name.

On a small island, I picked out a snipe with its long pointed bill designed for probing the soft mud in search of worms, insects, crustaceans and molluscs. There was a loud flurry of wings as the ducks took to the air as one flock. A hen marsh harrier then appeared on the scene, followed by a passing peregrine falcon. However both were unsuccessful this time and the large flock soon alighted on the water to resume feeding.

So successful was my visit here that I doubt even the rain could have dampened it.

L B Loxley