A calf with unusual markings has arrived on the reserve at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, earning her the nickname 'Minnie'.

Eastern Daily Press: A calf with unusual markings has arrived on the reserve at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, earning her the nickname Minnie.A calf with unusual markings has arrived on the reserve at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, earning her the nickname Minnie. (Image: Bob Ellis/WWT)

Her distinctive white forehead would normally be unusual enough, but her black, mouse silhouette really makes her stand out from the herd.

'Minnie', her mother and the rest of their herd are grazing an area of wetland recreation at WWT Welney in West Norfolk over the summer months.

Reserve warden Louise Clewley said: 'The cows do a fantastic job, creating a mosaic of grasses that provide the ideal habitat for a wide variety of birds.

'Species like the lapwing and the rare black-tailed godwit prefer short grass so that they can easily spot predators; whereas snipe and redshank rely on their camouflage and so prefer tussocks of longer grass.

'This year has been an awesome year for breeding birds on the reserve and the cattle are getting it in great shape'

'One of my favourite things is digging around in cow poo, the pats provide a great habitat for lots of amazing insects which become a food source for birds and bats'.

Visitors can watch the herds of cattle from the wetland centre and the hides out on the reserve.