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"This cottage is a little gem."
BC
Wildlife
In addition to the famous Westhay Starlings, this whole part of Somerset is rich in wildlife and birdlife.
Shapwick and Meare Heath National Nature Reserve
Former peat extraction sites are now being restored to reedbeds to provide a haven for otters and waterfowl, as well as many varieties of insects and wildflowers. Birds can be seen here all the year round - wildfowl gather in vast numbers in winter and hobbies can be seen hunting over the reedbeds in summer
Somerset Levels and Moors Nature Reserves
Lawn Cottage also offers the perfect accommodation for ornithologists and visitors to:
- Shapwick Moor – Hawk and Owl Trust maintained for birds of prey
- Bridgwater Bay, River Parrett
- Greylake, Kings Sedgemoor, (RSPB)
- Catcott Lows (Somerset Wildlife Trust)
- Ham Wall/Walton Heath (RSPB)
- West Sedgemoor and Swell Wood (RSPB) - Heronry
- Tealham/Tadham Moor SSSI
What to Look Out for on the Reserves of the Somerset Levels
Depending on which reserve you visit, the flood conditions and the season you might see
- hairy dragonfly and other insects
- otter
- brown hare
- water vole
- roe deer
- millions of starlings
- bittern
- heron
- owl
- shelduck
- kestrel
- curlew
- buzzard
- dunlin
- hobby
- snipe
- little egret
- lapwing
- mute swan
- reedbunting
- yellow wagtail
- Cetti’s warbler
- golden plover
- finches
- reed warblers
- snipe
- pintail
- shoveler
- redshank
- gadwall
- whinchat
- peregrine
- Bewick's swan
- harriers
- whimbrel
- sparrowhawk
- teal
- kingfisher
- widgeon
- marsh harrier
- migrating birds from Europe and Russia
- plus many other wading birds, wildfowl and waterfowl
