What a brilliant time of year it is, the reserves are amazing and alive with wetland birds. Every pool and ditch edge are stuffed with whistling wigeon or feeding black tailed godwits, dunlin scurry in between their legs, grey and golden plover give our their soft sad call and there is chance to see the iridescent purple plumage of the glossy ibis stroll across the path in front of you. If you need to be inspired or to be reminded of how amazing nature is treat yourself to a trip out to one of the reserves, whether it is Bowling Green Marsh to enjoy a flock of 600 avocet or Exminster Marshes to see over 2,000 wigeon, the choice is yours. Of course it is not all about numbers as I walked down Station Road yesterday on a miserable cold murky day, I was greeted by the acrobatic antics of a male bullfinch. As he probed at the buds he stuck out his rosy pink tummy – my, he did look smart. Fieldfares and redwings are still regulars feeding on the berries and groups of long tailed tits can be seen busying themselves with what seems to be endless energy for such as small bird.