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Highlights:
Also present: Otters, roe deer, badger, grass snake, adder, dragonflies (brown hawker, common hawker, hairy dragonfly and ruddy darter) and butterflies (Brown argus, dark green fritillary and green hairstreak.
Birds:
Location:
Grid reference: ST 457438
Access:
There is a series of permissive paths on the reserve, largely to give access to the viewing stations and hides.
Westhay Moor National Nature reserve
Westhay Moor comprises a patchwork of reed-beds, open water, carr and the remnants of acid raised mire, damp heath, fen and wet grassland habitats on the Somerset Levels.
Highlights:
In the winter months, millions of starlings come in to roost just before dusk, creating a spectacle which attracts hundreds of visitors.
Also present: Otters, roe deer, badger, grass snake, adder, dragonflies (brown hawker, common hawker, hairy dragonfly and ruddy darter) and butterflies (Brown argus, dark green fritillary and green hairstreak.
Birds:
Bewick's swan, golden plover, lapwing, teal, gadwall, garganey, water rail, reed warbler, goldeneye, goosander and little grebe can all be found. Bittern and bearded tit can sometimes be found in the reedbeds, while Cetti's warbler and reed bunting breed here. Barn owl, marsh harrier, hen harrier, hobby, nightjar, tree pipit, nightingale and many other important species have also been recorded.
Location:
From Glastonbury, take the B3151 turning right 1km beyond Westhay. The reserve is on your left after a further 1km. The car park is just off the road to Godney, at the junction with Daggs Lane Drove
Grid reference: ST 457438
Access:
PLEASE NOTE: Car parking on the Peat Moors is limited and the roads and the droves are very narrow in places,
If you and your family or friends are going to watch the starlings by car, please try and travel in as few vehicles as possible.
If you and your family or friends are going to watch the starlings by car, please try and travel in as few vehicles as possible.
There is a series of permissive paths on the reserve, largely to give access to the viewing stations and hides.
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
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Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment
I have seen many Red Kites in the mountains of Wales, so I ( R. Inglis) and my colleague (R. Heard) can confirm a definite sighting of a Red Kite in the Huntspill area of the Somerset Levels. It was a solitary bird (not hunting) but viewing surroundings.
We were both out fishing, along with Barn Owl, Cuckoo and Kingfisher
Left us and headed for Westhay Moor NNR direction
It was a fantastic sighting in our area. Did anybody in the reserve, see it come over.
How fantastic it would be for Somerset to have a Red Kite population
Posted by: Powell Ettinger | 01 Jul 2009 22:21:50