On Thursday 24 April, 11 of the group and 2 guests had a trip out of county to Ham Wall RSPB in Somerset. It was a warm sunny day which brought the birds out especially the warblers and we were greeted with lots of birdsong from the likes of blackcap, garden warbler, willow warbler, cetti's and many more. Finding the little blighters was another matter.

We were rewarded on the water seeing different water birds, one being the striking great crested grebe with one parent giving their youngsters, called "humbugs" because of their stripy plumage, a ride on its back. This is to keep them safe from predators, including pike.

But I think we would all go home with the picture of the glossy ibis only feet away from us not giving a care in the world that it was being watched, showing off such beautiful colours in his plumage.

But first, just 10 minutes down the road after a picnic lunch we had a short stop at Greylake RSPB and saw a few different water birds including shoveler and teal and a few of us were lucky enough to see Marsh Harriers and reed warbler. A rare sighting for the latter. Always heard but rarely seen.

I think by then we had a tally of around 40 birds and were ready to go home.