Wheldrake Ings YWT

With big blue skies overhead, reed beds and flood meadows, the YWT's Wheldrake Ings Nature Reserve, near York, is the perfect winter day out. Not least because it's one of the busiest international airports for migrating birds.

At this time of year, from the various bird hides you can spot whooper swans, coots, cormorants, widgeon and lapwings. The stillness of water is only punctuated by the sounds of the birds - the quacking of ducks and the call of the curlew.

This is a truly magical place, home to thousands of water fowl that you'll rarely spot anywhere elsewhere. It was the perfect outdoor playground for some winter photography.