What Three Things

Visiting Lower Moor

We visited Lower Moor Nature Reserve last week with some of our son’s friends. It was a beautiful day. Perfect for outdoor adventure. Immersed in the natural environment, we built a den, took part in a nature trail, and had fun watching the life around us.

My son and I stayed on after the others had departed. We wanted to spend some time in the hides, which are usually good places to spot wildlife. They didn’t disappoint. Highlights of the afternoon included:

The otter was my first sighting in the wild. It was one of those occasions which it was nice to share with the few other wildlife watchers present. A unification of humans marvelling at the mammal swimming and diving in the water in front of us.

Having had such a good day last week, we returned at the weekend. As before, we enjoyed walking around the reserve, appreciating signs of new life emerging from the soil. But the birds and other beasts were nowhere in sight. We could hear songbirds around us, and the occasional call of a magpie.

While it was wonderful to be outside, I felt a measure of disappointment at not seeing the same diversity that we had witnessed a couple of days earlier. Entering a hide, I took a seat alongside a solitary nature watcher. Her binoculars were pointed towards the lake, where, she told me, she had seen a kingfisher earlier.

What Three Things

We sat, looking across the water. There was little to see; a male mallard, but no kingfishers. The woman, however, was not disappointed. She explained that the reserve had been a source of comfort to her during lockdown. Somewhere accessible where she could enjoy exercise, fresh air, and nature. She enjoyed the solitude and tranquility. Her aim, she said, was to see, and appreciate, three things every time she visited.

They didn’t have to be rare specimens. A robin was as valid as an otter, and a magpie counted the same as a jay. The point wasn’t in spending hours seeking a rarity, it was in appreciating what was around in the moment. One might, of course, spend hours watching for an otter and instead spot several mallards. Watching and waiting is part of the fun of nature spotting. And appreciating the time spent, and the things seen, is part of the process.

I’ve learnt much from nature spotters at reserves. I generally find they are keen to share their knowledge with others, and particularly eager to pass it on to the younger generation.

While we didn’t see as many animals during the second visit, it was still an inspiring trip. Three things which lifted my spirits include: the mallard with his beautiful iridescent head feathers, the robin whose song travelled far across the habitat, and the numerous clusters of snowdrops growing along the footpath.

My fellow nature watcher had a point. Whatever the circumstances, finding three things which bring you happiness, can ease the soul. The mindfulness involved creates a moment of connectivity between oneself and life. And sometimes we need that connection more than ever.

Read more about using the three good things principle as a means of boosting happiness here.