After forcing myself to revise Biology for most of my Sunday, I drove to Verulamium Lake, St Albans to capture the evening sun in the water. I’ve been here so many times as a child, clutching ice creams or settling down with a picnic. It’s a real tourist magnet, with a stunning view of the Abbey sitting proudly beyond the lake.

I was hoping to capture swans with wings outstretched, boasting their regal beauty. No such luck. After having seen several hundred swans here in the past, not a single one graced me with its presence today. No matter; coots, Canada geese, moorhens and tufted ducks turned up for their photo shoot.

As I knelt by the water’s edge, I couldn’t help overhearing a young woman asking her boyfriend what a certain species was, to which he replied with the Latin binomial. It was very refreshing to discover a fellow wildlife enthusiast; our kind seem to be diminishing fast in this modern age.

I was pleased to see several Tufted Ducks; I don’t see them often. One individual was diving in and out of the water. When submerged, bubbles exploded on the surface for a moment before a sleek male emerged, clutching a treasure in his beak. I love the tiny droplets of water on his back, sitting atop his preened feathers.

Although I didn’t come across any flapping swans, I was graced with a brief performance from a coot, regal in its own special way.

This was a lovely end to my weekend, and I hope to go on another nature walk very soon.