With weather a little more akin to a normal UK winter; warmer days and rain, the conditions on the reserves have been excellent for our winter wildlife. To say goodbye to the snow and freezing temperatures and welcome a drop of rain meant that the water levels came up rather nicely. The wet features on Exminster Marshes are like little magnets as they draw in a range of wildfowl, from pintail to pochard. At the moment a walk down Station Road through the marsh can reveal flighty lapwing as they suddenly take to the sky in large groups like bats, their rounded wings silhouetted against the sky, and hundreds of black-tailed godwits all chattering to themselves. If you do find time to take such a walk don’t forget to look out for any ringed individuals as Topsham Primary School children would really like to know!