I have just spent a wonderful evening at Marshside, near Southport, in the RSPB hide watching Avocets. There were a large number of them, quite close to the hide as well, with lots of chicks - they were truly a wonderful sight. I have never been that close to them before and so was able to get quite a few pictures of them. It really was a lovely evening and the light was just right. I had been at Mere Sands Wood all day, manning my exhibition there, although I had managed to sneak out for a while to the Lancaster hide where a kingfisher had been spotted fishing from a reed close to the hide, so it made a nice relaxing end to the day