Six intrepid members met in the car park in the midst of Storm ‘Amy’. We waited until a short sharp hail shower passed over to walk onto the reservoir banks. The wind was so strong we could only identify the closest birds, which were flocks of Mallard and Coot and a few Pied Wagtails. Cheddar Reservoir is currently at 27% water storage, with large areas exposed and many of the birds towards the middle of the reservoir. Our numbers dwindled to four as we decided to head for the droves and paths along the rhynes of Cheddar moor in the hope of some shelter. Most birds seemed to have taken cover and we only managed Corvids, Woodpigeon and Starlings. We heard a Cetti’s Warbler as we made our way to the far end of Axbridge, and eight Roe Deer along the route were also braving the winds. We spotted a Kingfisher on the banks of a rhyne in Axbridge, a couple of Little Egret and heard a group of Long-tailed Tits as we headed back onto the reservoir banks. The wind had dropped a little by this time, but we still struggled to focus. A Kestrel flew across and we recorded five Great Crested Grebes and flocks of Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Teal and Black-headed Gull, with Meadow Pipit on the embankment. A group of birdwatchers reported two Leach’s Storm Petrels but we didn’t manage to see them. We achieved 22 species in total. Thanks to Nick for leading the walk and persevering in such bad weather. It certainly blew the cobwebs away! Maree Richards