Catcott Heath, Somerset

Acquisition of land at Catcott Heath. The site consists of four low lying fields on badly disrupted Altcar 1 Series Fen peat, fed by lime rich water from the Polden hills and bordered by ditches. The fields were converted from arable production after SWT acquisition and rapidly acquired important wintering, spring passage and breeding bird interest, due to the flooded winter conditions and soft ground through early summer. In the winter the fields are used by large numbers of Lapwing, Mallard, Wigeon and nationally important numbers of Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler. Smaller numbers of Mute and Bewick's Swans, White-fronted geese, Pintail, Dunlin and Snipe occur regularly. In spring the reserve is used by nationally important numbers of roosting passage Whimbrel as well as passage Greenshank, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit. Locally important numbers of Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe breed. The ditches and fields have increasingly good aquatic flora and aunal interest and include the nationally scarce Least Duckweek (Wolffia arrihiza), also Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) and Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytrong pratense).