Greylake RSPB

Greylake RSPB reserve is a relatively new addition to the Somerset birding circuit. An already promising area of wet grazing marsh just north of King’s Sedgemoor Drain has been developed and improved, including the installation of a fox-proof fence, and in summer it is now a stronghold for breeding waders, including Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, and Snipe, and also for Yellow Wagtails. In winter it is a haven for thousands of wildfowl and waders – Wigeon and Teal are the most numerous, but Pintail, Gadwall and Shoveler are all usually present too. Lapwing and Golden Plover flocks frequently number several hundred, often in the fields opposite the car park, while the area is one of the more reliable local winter sites for Ruff, and Snipe often show very well from the hides. Bitterns and Marsh Harriers are now regular, as are Reed and Sedge Warblers. A first summer male Montagu's Harrier graced the reserve for over two weeks in May 2024. Reed Buntings often give particularly good views at the feeding stations in the car park, which have also occasionally attracted winter Bramblings. Garganey and Little Ringed Plover are regular in spring, and occasionally a Spotted Crake is seen, usually in early autumn.

It is one of the best sites in the county for winter raptors: Peregrine, Merlin, and Hen Harrier are all regular, while Short-eared Owls visit periodically; Barn Owls are regularly seen. Great White Egret and Crane are commonly seen, and winter rarities have included Baikal Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Long-billed Dowitcher.