News

Summer wetland management

Summer wetland management

Summer habitat management is in full swing as the breeding season for wading birds comes to a close and cattle graze throughout the reserve.

28 July 2019

Iceland calls to Welney whooper swans

Iceland calls to Welney whooper swans

Whooper swans hatched from injured, resident birds on our wetlands have been recorded migrating north towards Iceland for the first time.

16 July 2019

The chips are down! Miracle birds hatched from ‘muddy potato’ eggs return thousands of miles to rearing site

The chips are down! Miracle birds hatched from ‘muddy potato’ eggs return thousands of miles to rearing site

Rare black-tailed godwits head-reared at WWT Welney after their eggs were freed from muddy farmland have flown thousands of miles home for summer.

23 May 2019

Photographer David Phillips features in the gallery this May & June

Photographer David Phillips features in the gallery this May & June

Throughout May and June the gallery is alive with colourful photographs taken by David Phillips.

17 May 2019

Artist Gill McCoy features in the gallery this March & April

Artist Gill McCoy features in the gallery this March & April

Throughout July and August the gallery is alive with colourful, creative artwork by Gill McCoy.

1 March 2019

Festival of Swans

Festival of Swans

The Festival of Swans weekend was a fantastic success with hundreds of people enjoying our wetland reserve and the special activities we had available. Special guest, Mike Dilger, joined a panel of speakers talking about Bewick's swans.

28 January 2019

Today's Sightings

Today's Sightings

Bewick’s swan Mute swan Whooper swan Canada goose Greylag goose White-fronted goose Gadwall Goldeneye Mallard Pintail Pochard Teal Tufted duck Shelduck Shoveler Wigeon Cattle egret Crane Great egret Little egret Cormorant Coot Moorhen Black-tailed godwi

16 January 2019

Wildlife sightings 16/01/19

Wildlife sightings 16/01/19

a.m. mid/high tide Wader Lake Grey heron 3 Shoveler 4 male, 1 female Mute swan 2 Shelduck 9 Tufted duck Water rail (heard at Prince's Trust hide) Teal 15 Saline lagoon Teal 3 Hawthorn Wood Lesser redpoll 4 Mealy redpoll Brambling 10 Nuthatch Treecreeper G

16 January 2019

Chiffchaff overwintering in Wildside

Chiffchaff overwintering in Wildside

1 Bittern - main lake 4 Pintail - main lake, reservoir lagoon 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh 1 Shelduck - main lake 4 Snipe - wader scrape 1 Chiffchaff - Wildside   January bird highlights: Shelduck, Goldeneye, Bittern, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit,

16 January 2019

Great Whites

Great Whites

Martin Smith Hide Chiffchaff calling from the nearby trees, two birds have been seen here lately and are probably roosting in the ivy. The Jack Snipe made another appearance along with 5 Common Snipe, if you don't see it first time it's well worth return

15 January 2019

Today's Sightings

Today's Sightings

Bewick’s swan Whooper swan Mute swan Greylag Canada goose Tundra bean goose (x3) Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Gadwall Wigeon Teal Ringed teal (escapee) Pochard Tufted duck Moorhen Crane x 4 (Friends hide) Great egret Cattle egret (following sheep o

15 January 2019

Wader Lake essential works - Jan 2019

Wader Lake essential works - Jan 2019

 WWT Washington's reserve team will be carrying out some essential maintenance on Wader Lake this week (Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 January 2019).  The dedicated team of staff and volunteers at WWT Washington will be renewing and enhancing the existing

15 January 2019

Wildlife sightings - 15/01/19

Wildlife sightings - 15/01/19

a.m. Tide Level: High Wader Lake Lapwing 36 Curlew 19 Canada goose 10 Shelduck 21 Shoveller 4 Black-headed gull 5 Grey heron 6 Redshank 1 Teal 15 Saline Lagoon Curlew 19 Carrier crow 1 Hawthorn Wood Bullfinch 18 Blue tit 8 Goldfinch 9 Redpoll 6 Dunnock 1

15 January 2019

Siskin along the South route

Siskin along the South route

2 Bittern - main lake (North shore & close to Headley hide) 6 Pintail - main lake 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh 3 Siskin - South route 1 Peregrine - hunting over the main lake 1 Kestrel - South route January bird highlights: Shelduck, Goldeneye, Bitt

15 January 2019

White-fronts in the Four Score again

White-fronts in the Four Score again

Rushy Hide Good roost of Bewick's Swans with 110 birds on site. One of the satellite transmitter birds (Catalana) visited Gwent (Llandegfedd/Usk) over the weekend. Martin Smith Hide No reports of the Jack Snipe today but Common Snipe, Chiffchaff and Cetti

14 January 2019