Many thanks for the suggestion Rob. I believe you are right. It was misty so the far side of the reeds was indistinct even through a scope, and the location of the bird was in the far left hand corner. I had not appreciated that there was a Marsh Harrier with a very pale head, but this could certainly have been the bird

Hi Brian, not sure what the conditions were like but did you consider the possibility of a juv Marsh Harrier.

There is one particular bird, with a very pale head,  that can often be found in the reeds on the far side slightly over to the left hand corner.

Best wishes, Robin

According to RSPB the latest recorded UK Osprey was 16 December in 1980. The bird did not survive!

While at the new hide at Noahs Lake, Shapwick Heath earlier this week, I was scanning the far part of the lake searching for something other than the Wigeon which were all over the place. And there, perched rather disconsolately in the reeds was a raptor with an all white head. I would cheerfully have identified it as an Osprey, had it not been December. Is it possible that an Osprey is over-wintering as far north as Somerset ?