ON THE eastern side of the River Devon estuary at Cambus, there are a couple of large pools where the fields have flooded, creating a wonderful oasis for wildlife.

These quiet expanses of water provide rich feeding for a variety of birds, and on my most recent visit, a large flock of black-headed gulls had gathered in the smaller of the two pools, where they excitedly scrabbled around in search of worms and other invertebrates.

Black-headed gulls are such elegant birds, with their sleek lines and long sharp wings, taking to the air with ease and wheeling over the water with great agility.

This shallow watery expanse had also attracted several moorhens that plodded around the water’s edge on their impossibly large lobed feet.

I moved on to the larger of the two expanses of water, which is really more of a lochan than a pool, and here a lone heron lurked by the water’s edge.

It spotted me and took flight on lumbering wings before settling on a nearby boggy margin.

I didn’t want to disturb any of the other birds on the pool, so from the cover of a full-berried hawthorn, I scanned the water with my binoculars and was able to pick-out a pair of shelduck up-ending in the shallows, as well as several goldeneye duck.

Although I couldn’t see any teal, they were about, for their gentle whistling calls floated across the air.

It is such a beautiful noise; nature’s sweet music, which lifts the soul and makes your heart dance with joy.