GREYLAKE nature reserve, an area of some 270 acres of floodplain grassland, was purchased by the RSPB as recently as 2003. During the short few years since it was ground that had been ploughed up for the cultivation of carrots and potatoes, thirteen miles of new ditches have been excavated and water reintroduced to the site. This has recreated the conditions that once existed when it was a prime breeding ground for marshland birds.

Success has been incredible and the reserve can now boast nesting lapwings, snipe, curlew and redshank as well as yellow wagtails, skylarks and meadow pipits. No wonder then that Greylake is fast becoming one of the favourite field meeting venues for Taunton RSPB local group.

A recent field meeting saw twelve group members gather at the Greylake car park to make their way across the boardwalk to the superb hide structure that gives a panoramic view over the wet grassland and pools.

On reaching the crossing of the main drove the party paused to scan the fields and at once discovered a wonderfully coloured cock yellow wagtail on the cattle pens. This beautiful bird would put a canary to shame with its vibrant plumage.

One of the success stories of Greylake, the yellow wagtail goes to great lengths not to reveal the location of its nest. Even when the adults are carrying food to the young they will not deliver the meal until all intruders have gone away.

From the spacious comfort of the hide there was time and opportunity to conduct an intensive search of the reserve through telescopes. With so many pairs of eyes, little was overlooked and among the species located were a pair of ravens nesting on a distant pylon. By their actions it was almost certain that they were feeding youngsters.

Other species logged included redshank, curlew, little egret, little grebe, buzzard, several singing cock reed buntings, mallard, heron and away to the right, a cuckoo being strongly pursued in flight by a blackbird.

The cuckoo finally perched in a tree and was deemed to be a female.

Upon leaving Greylake the only hobby of the day was seen as it raced overhead across the road. The group then headed for Collard Hill in pursuit of butterflies.

Birds seen at Collard Hill included spotted flycatcher, green and great spotted woodpecker, blackcap and chiffchaff, but main object of the search was the large blue butterfly. There was success in this department with the sighting of six of these splendid butterflies. Declared extinct in Britain in 1979, they have been successfully reintroduced.

Diary date: Sunday, June 24. Ferrybridge and Portland area. Meet at map ref SY667761, 10am. Led by Stuart Hill (Taunton 400918). Wednesday, July 11. Staple Plain (Quantocks) for nightjars. Meet at map ref ST118410, 8.30pm. Led by Evan Williams (Taunton 289194).