Wildlife on site
There is a vast array of species already being seen as the Heal Somerset site returns to nature. Below is a list of some of the species that have been seen by visitors and volunteers throughout the months.
In addition, we monitor wildlife across Heal Somerset through strategically placed wildlife trailcams. Scroll down to see our highlights footage and some exciting species onsite.
January
Roe deer
Fox
Hare
Beaver (trailcam)
Weasel (trailcam)
Bullfinch
Stonechat
Chiffchaff
Raven
Buzzard
Kestrel
Red kite
Tawny owl
​
Long-tailed tit
Jay
Wren
Hawfinch
Green woodpecker
Great spotted woodpecker
Goldcrest
Skylark
Meadow pipet
Starling
Song thrush
​
April
Fallow deer
Roe deer
Badger (trailcam)
Hare
Sparrowhawk
Red kite
Kestrel
Short-eared owl
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
Skylark
​
Meadow pipet
Tree pipet
Chiffchaff
Swallow
House martin
Wheatear
Song thrush
Blackcap
Willow warbler
Cuckoo (heard)
Orange tip
​Speckled wood
July
Fox
Hare
Grass snake
Barn owl
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel (juve)
Tawny owl
Great spotted woodpecker
Green woodpecker
Blackcap
Whitethroat​
Swift
Swallow
House martin
Tree pipet
Chiffchaff
Skylark
Red admiral
Meadow brown
Wasp spider
Carrion beetle
Roesel's bush cricket
​
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October
Red deer
Roe deer
Hare
Badger (trailcam)
Beaver (trailcam)
Kestrel
Raven
Jay
Snipe
Pied wagtail
Meadow pipet
Whinchat
Stonechat
​
Bullfinch
Goldcrest
Painted lady
Cranefly
​
February
Roe deer
Red deer
Otter (trailcam)
Beaver (trailcam)
Pine marten (trailcam)
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Tawny owl
Red kite
Jackdaw
​
Redwing
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Chaffinch
House sparrow
Meadow pipet
Bullfinch
Pied wagtail
Water rail
Stonechat
Green woodpecker
May
Roe deer
Hare
Beaver (trailcam)
Lesser horseshoe bat
Common toad
Grass snake
Red kite
Hobby
Linnet
Siskin
Yellowhammer
Wheatear
Blackcap
Whitethroat
Lesser whitethroat
Cuckoo
Tree pipet
Green shield bug
Crickets
Yellow dung fly
Cranefly
Glow worm larvae
August
Fox
Hare
Beaver (trailcam)
Rabbit
Barn owl
Raven
Kestrel
Goldfinch
Green woodpecker
House martin
Swallow
Ladybird
Wasp
Speckled bush cricket
Grasshopper
Meadow brown
Skipper
Common blue
Devil's coach-horse beetle
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November
Red deer
Roe deer
Muntjac deer
Tawny owl
Beaver (trailcam)
Kestrel
Stonechat
Raven
Bullfinch
Common toad
Meadow pipet
Partridge
Pheasant
Woodcock
Marsh tit
Peregrine falcon
​
March
Roe deer
Hare
Otter (trailcam)
Beaver (trailcam)
Common toad
Bumblebee
Buzzard
Red kite
Jackdaw
Sparrowhawk
Snipe
Redpoll
Skylark
​
Pied wagtail
Marsh tit
Hawfinch
Chaffinch
Sparrow
Greenfinch
Chiffchaff
Siskin
Swallow
Brimstone
Tortoiseshell
Whirligig beetle
Wolf spider
June
Roe deer
Beaver (trailcam)
Otter (trailcam)
Badger (trailcam)
Stoat (trailcam)
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Raven
Buzzard
Tree pipet
Spotted flycatcher
Stonechat
Blue tit
Great tit
Skylark
Blackbird
​Wasp spider
Banded demoiselle
Orange tip
Skipper
Meadow brown
Ringlet
Small heath
Crickets
​
September
Fox
Roe deer
Beaver (trailcam)
Kestrel
Barn owl Peregrine falcon
Rook
Raven
Crossbill
Whinchat
Chaffinch
​
Hornet
Wasp spider
Cranefly
Orb weaver spider
​
December
Red deer
Roe deer
Muntjac deer
Fallow deer
Tawny owl
Beaver (trailcam)
Kestrel
Stonechat
Raven
Bullfinch
Common toad
Meadow pipet
Partridge
Pheasant
Woodcock
Great spotted woodpecker
Marsh tit
​Siskin
​
Wildlife Trailcams
In April 2024, we set up a series of wildlife trailcams across the 460-acre site to find out which species we have on the land and to see what was going on when it is left undisturbed.
Most were placed along the river that passes through Heal Somerset to see which species use this watery corridor. We were surprised a delighted by the results!
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We began to see otters, foxes, badgers, fallow deer, kingfishers, sparrowhawks, buzzards, wrens, jays, chiff chaffs, herons and egrets. If that wasn't cool enough, the most exciting sightings were of a beaver!
We knew that there was a population of wild-living beavers nearby but we didn't know whether any were on our land. The area has one of just five known wild beaver populations in England so they are currently a rarity in our national landscape.
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The beaver was first seen on these cameras in April 2024. We presumed it was a youngster moving away from its family to find a new territory. The question was: would this a one-off sighting or was it planning to stay? With more sightings over the coming months that question became: were there in fact two beavers? The timings on the cameras suggested there could be two...but we didn't have enough proof. Finally, in August 2024, we got it! A trailcam captured the pair together for the first time!
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Watch the beaver couple together below:
Early in 2025, we found the most remarkable evidence of otters using the Heal Somerset site. It wasn't just a single otter, as we'd seen occasionally in 2024. It wasn't even the two otter sighted together after dark in early February. This time, we had four otters (yes, four!) together on one trailcam in daylight.
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A family of four is quite a rare sighting and is likely to be a mother and her three young who were born in 2024. Young otters stay with their mothers for 12-18 months so these three may soon disperse to find their own territories. We're thrilled to have them passing through our site...and clearly they are leaving their (scent) mark on the riverbank to let others know they are here.
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Watch the family (and an inquisitive neighbour) below:
Stay updated on all the TrailCam action at Heal Somerset
TrailCam Highlights 2025
March - April 2025
includes our friendly climbing badger
February 2025
includes the otter family