Somerset Ornithological Society

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Home How to Join Photo Gallery Bird News Club News Where to go Birding County List Rarity Decisions Talks Walks Links		WESTHAY MOOR Click here to open up a map of the site. Note that you can move around the area by using the buttons around the map and enlarge or reduce the scale by using the buttons below the map. Click on your back button to return to this page. MAP REFERENCES O.S. Landranger 182 Weston-super-Mare & Bridgwater area O.S. Explorer 4 Mendip Hills West INTRODUCTION Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve or, as previously called, Greater Westhay Reserve is managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The reserve of 100 hectares (247 acres) is based on old, worked-out peat diggings and contains the remnant of a raised bog. It is trisected by two north/south droves, namely, from east to west, Daggs Lane Drove and London Drove. Between these droves is a large established phragmites reed bed overlooked by both a large hide - come interpretive centre (unmanned) with wheelchair access, and a standing screen. Leading eastward off Daggs Lane Drove is a raised wooden boardwalk to a hide overlooking reed-fringed pools. A grass footpath (often muddy) connects the two droves, by-passing a large open area of boggy heath and scrub surrounded by a narrow belt of alder and silver birch. Immediately west of London Drove is a series of reed-fringed lakes, the most northerly being known as Ten-Acre Lake. A hide and two standing screens overlook these lakes.Godney Ponds, just a half-mile east of Westhay Moor NR, are smaller worked-out peat diggings lying each side of a minor road adjacent to Rosebud Farm. The ponds of most interest are those to the west of this road - those to the east being used by a fishing syndicate. At the time of writing (Feb. 2002) the water level has been dropped exposing broad peat banks, used as loafing areas by cormorants and a variety of ducks. ACCESS Westhay Moor NR has a gravel car park situated at the southern end of Daggs Lane Drove at map ref. ST456437. From Westhay village take the B3151 northward towards Wedmore. In half-a-mile, at a sharp corner, take the first right hand turn and follow this minor road for just over a mile when the reserve car park is reached immediately on the left. For Godney Ponds proceed eastward from the reserve car park for half-a-mile and take the first left, passing a small peat works, when the ponds are reached in a third of a mile. Parking and viewing is restricted to the roadside - please pull-off carefully leaving way for other road users. SPECIES TO BE SEEN (W = winter; S = spring & summer; A = autumn) common grebes (WSA); cormorant (W); bittern (1 or 2 regularly winter); little egret (SA); grey heron (WSA); mute swan (WSA); greylag goose (uncommon); Canada goose & common dabbling ducks (WSA); pintail (W-scarce); garganey (S-scarce); common diving ducks (WA); goldeneye & goosander (W); common raptors (WSA); marsh harrier (SA-occasionally); hen harrier & merlin (W-occasionally); hobby (S); peregrine (WA-scarce) water rail (WSA-heard more than seen); passage waders (scarce, depending on mud exposure); common snipe (WA); woodcock (W-scarce on boggy heath) commoner gulls (WA); black tern (A-occasionally); stock dove (WA); cuckoo (S); barn & tawny owls (WSA-dusk); little owl (WSA-scarce); swift (S); kingfisher (WSA); great spotted & green woodpeckers (WSA); common hirundines (SA); tree pipit (S-scarce); meadow pipit (W); pied wagtail (WSA); grey wagtail (WA-uncommon); stonechat (WA); fieldfare & redwing (WA); mistle thrush (WSA-uncommon); Cetti's warbler (WSA-heard more than seen); common warblers (SA); firecrest & bearded tit (W-occasionally); common tits & treecreeper (WSA); raven (WSA-scarce, has bred); common finches, not linnet (WSA); brambling (W-scarce); siskin & lesser redpoll (WA); bullfinch (WA-scarce); reed bunting (WSA). Rare birds have included: night & purple herons, ring-necked duck, greater scaup, common scoter, smew, red-breasted merganser, goshawk, osprey, red-footed falcon, jack snipe, turtle dove, short-eared owl, nightjar, Dartford warbler, penduline tit and golden oriole. TIMING The best seasons for visiting are spring (late April/May) and autumn through winter (October/February). OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST Though only occasionally seen, the otter is a resident. Most sightings have been on Ten-Acre Lake. Roe deer is also a resident - best seen in late summer. Various species of damselfly and dragonfly can be seen from spring through to early autumn. Jeff Hazell
(c) Somerset Ornithological Society

WESTHAY MOOR

Click here to open up a map of the site. Note that you can move around the area by using the buttons around the map and enlarge or reduce the scale by using the buttons below the map. Click on your back button to return to this page.

MAP REFERENCES

O.S. Landranger 182 Weston-super-Mare & Bridgwater area

O.S. Explorer 4 Mendip Hills West

INTRODUCTION

Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve or, as previously called, Greater Westhay Reserve is managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The reserve of 100 hectares (247 acres) is based on old, worked-out peat diggings and contains the remnant of a raised bog. It is trisected by two north/south droves, namely, from east to west, Daggs Lane Drove and London Drove. Between these droves is a large established phragmites reed bed overlooked by both a large hide - come interpretive centre (unmanned) with wheelchair access, and a standing screen. Leading eastward off Daggs Lane Drove is a raised wooden boardwalk to a hide overlooking reed-fringed pools. A grass footpath (often muddy) connects the two droves, by-passing a large open area of boggy heath and scrub surrounded by a narrow belt of alder and silver birch. Immediately west of London Drove is a series of reed-fringed lakes, the most northerly being known as Ten-Acre Lake. A hide and two standing screens overlook these lakes.Godney Ponds, just a half-mile east of Westhay Moor NR, are smaller worked-out peat diggings lying each side of a minor road adjacent to Rosebud Farm. The ponds of most interest are those to the west of this road - those to the east being used by a fishing syndicate. At the time of writing (Feb. 2002) the water level has been dropped exposing broad peat banks, used as loafing areas by cormorants and a variety of ducks.

ACCESS

Westhay Moor NR has a gravel car park situated at the southern end of Daggs Lane Drove at map ref. ST456437. From Westhay village take the B3151 northward towards Wedmore. In half-a-mile, at a sharp corner, take the first right hand turn and follow this minor road for just over a mile when the reserve car park is reached immediately on the left. For Godney Ponds proceed eastward from the reserve car park for half-a-mile and take the first left, passing a small peat works, when the ponds are reached in a third of a mile. Parking and viewing is restricted to the roadside - please pull-off carefully leaving way for other road users.

SPECIES TO BE SEEN

(W = winter; S = spring & summer; A = autumn) common grebes (WSA); cormorant (W); bittern (1 or 2 regularly winter); little egret (SA); grey heron (WSA); mute swan (WSA); greylag goose (uncommon); Canada goose & common dabbling ducks (WSA); pintail (W-scarce); garganey (S-scarce); common diving ducks (WA); goldeneye & goosander (W); common raptors (WSA); marsh harrier (SA-occasionally); hen harrier & merlin (W-occasionally); hobby (S); peregrine (WA-scarce) water rail (WSA-heard more than seen); passage waders (scarce, depending on mud exposure); common snipe (WA); woodcock (W-scarce on boggy heath) commoner gulls (WA); black tern (A-occasionally); stock dove (WA); cuckoo (S); barn & tawny owls (WSA-dusk); little owl (WSA-scarce); swift (S); kingfisher (WSA); great spotted & green woodpeckers (WSA); common hirundines (SA); tree pipit (S-scarce); meadow pipit (W); pied wagtail (WSA); grey wagtail (WA-uncommon); stonechat (WA); fieldfare & redwing (WA); mistle thrush (WSA-uncommon); Cetti's warbler (WSA-heard more than seen); common warblers (SA); firecrest & bearded tit (W-occasionally); common tits & treecreeper (WSA); raven (WSA-scarce, has bred); common finches, not linnet (WSA); brambling (W-scarce); siskin & lesser redpoll (WA); bullfinch (WA-scarce); reed bunting (WSA). Rare birds have included: night & purple herons, ring-necked duck, greater scaup, common scoter, smew, red-breasted merganser, goshawk, osprey, red-footed falcon, jack snipe, turtle dove, short-eared owl, nightjar, Dartford warbler, penduline tit and golden oriole.

TIMING

The best seasons for visiting are spring (late April/May) and autumn through winter (October/February).

OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST

Though only occasionally seen, the otter is a resident. Most sightings have been on Ten-Acre Lake. Roe deer is also a resident - best seen in late summer. Various species of damselfly and dragonfly can be seen from spring through to early autumn.

Jeff Hazell