News

First hand-reared godwit returns to UK

First hand-reared godwit returns to UK

A black-tailed godwit has returned to The Fens in East Anglia where it was hand-reared after migrating as far as Portugal for the winter. The bird is one of 26 black-tailed godwits raised at WWT Welney and released into the wild last summer. The wader, a

24 April 2018

Wildlife sightings - 24/04/18

Wildlife sightings - 24/04/18

a.m. Tide Level: High Wader Lake Avocet 34 (highest ever adult number recorded at once before breeding) Shoveler 5 Reed warbler 1 Black-tailed godwit 4 Little-ringed plover 2 Mute swan 2 Sparrowhawk 1 Gadwall 4 Grey heron 24+ Eurasian teal 2 Saline Lagoon

24 April 2018

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Rushy Hide Now eight pairs of Black-headed Gull on nests on the lower pond and five half hearted nests on the top pond island. Three pairs of Avocet are on nests, 12 birds in total on the lower pond. A pair of Oystercatcher and a pair of Lapwing still pre

24 April 2018

Wildlife sightings for 24th April 2018

Wildlife sightings for 24th April 2018

1 Green Sandpiper - marsh, scrape p.m. 5 Redshank - wader scrape, main lake 13 Swallow - reservoir lagoon a.m. + p.m. 4 House Martin - main lake 5 Reed Warbler - reedbed, main lake, wildside 3 Sedge Warbler - reedbed, wildside 6 Blackcap - wildside, rese

24 April 2018

Migrants

Migrants

More new migrants over the weekend included the first Swift in the morning flew north and first Hobby was seen late in the day on Sunday, also a ringtail (fem or imm) Hen Harrier was seen briefly before heading off northeast on Sunday. Also on the Mere

23 April 2018

Bounty of butterflies, flowers & songbirds

Bounty of butterflies, flowers & songbirds

Female brimstone butterfly just laid a small green egg on buckthorn, their food plant.  Photo: Paul Stevens A week of warmer weather has brought out more butterflies, bees and blooms around the wetlands. Breeding Bir

23 April 2018

Today's Highlights

Today's Highlights

Cranes and chick Lapwing Moorhen Coot Black-tailed godwit Grey heron Oystercatcher Avocet Redshank Great crested grebe Cormorant Bar-tailed godwit-Nelson/Lyle Whooper swan Mute swan Greylag goose Canada goose Pochard Goldeneye displaying Shoveler Shelduck

23 April 2018

Wildlife sightings - 23/04/18

Wildlife sightings - 23/04/18

a.m. Tide Level: High Wader Lake Black-tailed godwit 12 Avocet 26 Grey heron 19 (+ juveniles ready to fledge) Shoveler 4 Stock dove 2 Shelduck 16 Redshank 3 Saline Lagoon Oystercatcher 2 Shelduck 6 Hawthorn Wood Reed bunting 1 Bullfinch 7 Robin 1 Other bi

23 April 2018

Wildlife sightings for 23rd April 2018

Wildlife sightings for 23rd April 2018

6 Redshank - scrape, marsh 3 Common Tern - main lake 2 Shelduck - scrape 4 Yellow Wagtail - marsh(2), over N(2) 1 Lesser Whitethroat - sheltered lagoon (near Sand Martin Bank) 3 Chiffchaff - wildside, sheltered lagoon 7 Blackcap - sheltered lagoon, w

23 April 2018

Wildlife sightings for 22nd April 2018

Wildlife sightings for 22nd April 2018

7 Redshank - wader scrape, grazing marsh 1 Jack Snipe - wader scrape 3 Snipe - wader scrape 2 Shelduck - wader scrape 1 Pheasant - sheltered lagoon 1 Wheatear - wader scrape 1 Kingfisher - south route 1 Yellow Wagtail - flew over main lake towards the

22 April 2018

Wildlife sightings - 22/04/2018

Wildlife sightings - 22/04/2018

a.m. Tide level: high Wader Lake Avocet 34 Common tern 3 Black-tailed godwit 11 Little ringed plover 1 Grey heron 25+ Gadwall 6 (3 pairs) Shoveler 4 (3 male & 1 female) Mute swan 1 Oystercatcher 4 Saline Lagoon Shelduck 9 Redshank 2 Hawthorn Wood Spar

22 April 2018

Today's Highlights

Today's Highlights

Goldeneye Gadwall Shoveler Tufted duck Pintail Garganey Shelduck Wigeon Cranes Lapwing Redshank Snipe Black-tailed godwit Avocet Grey plover Little grebe Oystercatcher Coot Little egret Grey heron Great crested grebe Whooper swan Mute swan Common tern Lit

22 April 2018

Sunday birding

Sunday birding

A great sunny start to the morning with lots of bird action too.  There seems to have been a small arrival of Reed Warbler with several new in singing males around, especially in the South Finger reedbed - listen out for them on your walk to the Kingfish

22 April 2018

Todays sightings

Todays sightings

Mute swan Whooper swan Greylag Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Gadwall Wigeon Teal Pochard Tufted duck Goldeneye Great crested grebe Cormorant Coot Moorhen Crane Grey heron Great  egret Little egret Curlew Whimbrel Oystercatcher Black-tailed godwit Red

21 April 2018

Reserve Update Saturday 21st April

Reserve Update Saturday 21st April

Well the sun is shining, the birds are singing....and our lonely Whooper Swan was back on the pond this morning!  He has the company of a couple of Mute Swans and a good number of Tufted Ducks.  The first House Martin was spotted around the Farmhouse To

21 April 2018