Somerset Wild Walks: Somerset Levels, Hawk & Owl Trust Reserve + Canada Farm

We parked up at the Hawk and Owl Trust car park and followed the drove road right along to its end which met up with the main road to Catcott. This drove road is quite wild in places and home to a brilliant array of wild flowers. Nice to see that some of the cut fields have a wild flower edge around them. Along this drove we saw many butterflies from Red Admiral. Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Veined White and a single Comma which was perched on a grass stem.

Flocks of Goldfinches seemed to follow us along the way as well as few Buzzards. We also caught a glimpse of a young Grass Snake heading out of our way into the grassy verge. This drove road is just pure countryside heaven.

From the drove road we headed back across the fields towards Hawk & Owl Trust hide. Along the way we saw a couple of Clouded Yellows and a few Brimstones, the Brimsones looking so fresh and new. The H & O Trust hide is amazing - the best hide I have ever been in. A pond has been made just outside as well as three bird tables and feeders in place. Whilst we were there Great Tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock and a Great Spotted Woodpecker came to the tables. The views across the fields are amazing and from here we saw more Buzzards, a Kestrel and a couple of Hobbies in the distance.

The walk from the hide along the drove road to the hide at Canada Farm is brilliant. Surrounded by fields, lagoons and woodland, again another great area for butterflies and dragonflies.

From the very breezy hide at Canada Farm we had some fantastic close views of hunting Hobbies the dead trees in the lake providing perches for them. There must have been at least 10 Hobbies here. We also had a fantastic view of a female Marsh Harrier as well as some Great Creasted Grebes.