I spent a day on the Somerset levels with an old friend from college, Jerry Fenner, in late January. First, I stopped at Wookey Hole to see a dipper on the stream there.

Our first stop on the levels was Shapwick Heath. Birds here included a kingfisher, 6 water pipits, a stonechat and 2 lesser redpolls.

We spent an hour in the Meare Heath hide, and were rewarded with a sighting of an otter, which came out of the water on one occasion.

The raised hide gives a good view over Noah's Lake.

We ate lunch in the hide at Catcott Lows, where large numbers of waterfowl were present.

Ducks included wigeon, teal and shoveler.

A peregrine was perched on the ground at the back of the reserve. I had some of my best views of black-tailed godwits feeding a few metres from the front of the hide.

Final stop was Westhay moor, to see the starling roost. Also heard some bearded reedlings here.

The starlings arrived quite late, arriving mainly from the E and SE. The constant stream of large numbers of birds was spectacular, and trees in the marsh turned black.

A spectacular end to an excellent day, with beautiful winter light for photography.

Back to January 2006