THIS winter has seen birdwatchers in Somerset treated to the largest number of waterbirds at the Wildfowl and Wetlands’ Trust’s Steart Marshes since it opened.

Staff and volunteers counted nearly 19,000 birds from 49 species, including nationally important numbers of avocet, dunlin, little egret, redshank, shelduck and shoveler.

Lapwing and golden plover came in their thousands, and there were sightings of a single American wigeon and green winged teal, which are rare here.

Assistant warden Joe Cockram, said: “It has been amazing to see so many birds this early in the life of the new reserve. We are excited about how it might develop.”

Steart Marshes is a new area of wetland on the Steart peninsula, created in partnership with the Environment Agency to replace saltmarsh being lost along the coast.

Anyone who would like to hear more about Steart Marshes and its wildlife can join a WWT guided walk on May Day Bank Holiday - contact 01278 651090 for more details and to book.