News
See moths while the sun shines - July reserve update
Chimney sweeper moth "The recent hot weather has seen many day-flying moths across site and we’re having a great year for the often overlooked chimney sweeper moth (Odezia atrata) which can be found at Old Oak Meado
17 July 2013
Returning avocets set new wildlife record
A bird which made local wildlife history when it hatched chicks at WWT Washington for the very first time has broken yet another record. An avocet with two chicks (Ian Hamilton 2012) Four pairs of avocet have nested a
21 June 2013
WWT Washington earns 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Image by Alan Hewitt WWT Washington Wetland Centre has been honoured as a top performing visitor attraction by users of the world’s largest and best-known travel site. Our 103-acre nature reserve and wetland centre
17 June 2013
Wood sandpiper at Wader Lake
This fantastic wood sandpiper was snapped at Wader Lake yesterday (12 June). It's not a site first but we typically only see one a year. Thanks to Ian Hamilton for the pic :-)
13 June 2013
New £120K habitat-creation project unveiled
Saline lagoon view An example of one of the UK’s rarest habitats is being unveiled to the public at WWT Washington Wetland Centre this weekend. A £120K saline lagoon, funded by SITA Trust and the Estate of the late
24 May 2013
WWT Washington named one of England's best small visitor attractions
Lady Cobham, Chair of VisitEngland, presents the award WWT Washington Wetland Centre is thrilled to announce it has won the ‘highly commended’ award in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the pres
22 May 2013
Saline lagoon opening
Our saline lagoon is opening to the public on Saturday 25 May. Take a first-look around this fantastic new £120k development, funded by SITA Trust and the Estate of the late Mrs M A Sheard, which has already been visited by roe deer, wild otter and a w
9 May 2013
Five go off on an adventure (video)!
The chicks get used to their new surroundings Frankie, Nico, Fran, Phil and Flo – WWT Washington Wetland Centre’s very own famous five flamingo chicks – have embarked on their biggest adventure yet; moving in w
5 May 2013
Beautiful bluebells and wonderful wildlife ponds
At this time of year, things are changing daily on the reserve. On 3 May, the first bluebells started to flower in the dappled shade of Spring Gill Wood. At the moment, the gill is definitely the place to be if you enjoy flowering flora, as wood sorrel
5 May 2013
Happy news from the heronry
Grey heron chicks on a nest (N.B. a little older than our current ones!) "Despite the weather-related setback to the grey heron colony earlier this year, it is great to see that the second nesting attempts have been a
1 May 2013
Spring migrant update
What a difference a week makes. After a recent break of six days away, it was great to get back out on the reserve and check the progress of our spring arrivals - and I was not disappointed! Chiffchaff by Ray Cottrell
21 April 2013
New life is starting to stir amongst our wonderful wetlands
Don’t miss what’s starting to lay, nest and hatch at our award-winning nature reserve this spring! Nene and gosling by Kathleen Misajon Nothing gets you closer to the magic of spring than witnessing the emergence
11 April 2013
Can you tell what it is yet!?..
With essential tree felling work still going on around site (partly cutting down dangerous trees, partly pollarding/coppicing to encourage spectacularly colourful regrowth and entice more wildlife), we've been asked what we're doing with the left over log
7 April 2013
Read the latest goings on from our wildlife reserve
Reserve manager John Gowland said: "The theme of this report has very much been guided by the easterly winds, which have been bringing cold weather to our shores. Avocet by Alan Hewitt Last year’s March reserve repo
4 April 2013
Lunch with the birds - interview with our reserve manager John Gowland
Our reserve manager John Gowland met up with the Sunderland Echo's Alison Goulding on her lunch break, as part of Bird Watching magazine's Birding Lunch campaign (1-5 April 2013
27 March 2013