News
Latest on ladybirds
Our first active seven-spot ladybird of the season has been recorded today. Spring is on its way!... [...]
24 February 2012
Otters on river
One of the contractors working on our new saline lagoon has told us that he spotted four otters on the River Wear opposite our site yesterday. FOUR!! Out of interest, a group of otters is called a [...]
24 February 2012
Todays Sightings
Wader Lake Lapwing - 36 Redshank - 11 Curlew - 18 Wigeon - 7 Teal - 43 Mallard - 81 Shelduck - 14 Grey Heron - 20 Other Birds Grey Wagtail (Stream Channel) [...]
24 February 2012
Bird News
Firstly, late news from yesterday, when a Brimstone butterfly was seen taking advantage of the unusually fine weather - probably a mistake, as the more typical wind and rain had returned by this [...]
24 February 2012
Wildlife sightings for 24th February 2012
1 Bittern - reservoir lagoon opposite wildside hide 3 Pintail - main lake, reservoir lagoon 17 Snipe - grazing marsh, main lake 14 Redwing - entrance area 6 Lesser Redpoll - waterlife [...]
24 February 2012
Todays Sightings
Holden Tower and Robbie Garnett Hide High tide this morning and a little sunshine. Whitefronted Goose 243. After 3 days out of sight to the north good to see there is still a good number here. [...]
24 February 2012
Say "hi" to Jerry!
Jerry is the last New Zealand blue duck in WWT, British and European collections. As such he is not only a rarity, but inevitably; alone. Jerry's normal home is at WWT Arundel where he resides in a beautiful spring fed exhibit designed just for him, but h
24 February 2012
Swans prepare for the off!
It has been challenging keeping track of the Bewick’s over the last few days! After counting just 165 at the morning feed on Swan Lake at the end of last week, we wondered whether some had left on spring migration....until a tip off led swan spotter Ste
23 February 2012
Sneak preview of new saline lagoon
Visitors are invited to join a special guided tour of WWT Washington Wetland Centre’s new saline lagoon this weekend, before the habitat is flooded and an array of local wildlife begins to move in. The £100,000 project, funded by the SITA trust, is due
23 February 2012
Bird News
A remarkably Spring-like feel about today, with lots of our resident species including Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds and Skylarks in full voice. A few partial counts from around the reserve included 1 [...]
23 February 2012
Wildlife sightings for 23rd February 2012
1 Shelduck - main lake 8 Pintail - main lake, grazing marsh 51 Wigeon - grazing marsh 123 Cormorant - main lake 1 Peregrine - seen arriving on building over the river, clutching prey a [...]
23 February 2012
Wildlife reserve prepares for spring/summer arrivals
Preparation is underway for the breeding season out on WWT Washington’s wildlife reserve. Reserve manager John Gowland said: “We have begun lowering the level of Wader Lake by gradually lifting the top sluice board, allowing the water to slowly drain
22 February 2012
Castle Espie Calls for Learning Volunteers
As a charity, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust relies on the generous support of volunteers to help with conservation work and other daily tasks. WWT Castle Espie learning department require volunteers to assist with the design, delivery, and development
22 February 2012
Todays Sightings
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/Low Wigeon 10 Teal 46 Mallard 37 Shelduck 15 Grey Heron 16 Shoveler 1 Lapwing 27 Redshank 11 Curlew 3 Salin [...]
22 February 2012
Tundra Beans and Whoopers
Slightly damp on and off but still a winter spectacle to behold. A count of Whooper Swan hit 1650, probably numbers swelled by birds moving north from WWT Welney. Six Tundra Bean Geese were with ~ 400 [...]
22 February 2012