News

Sightings for Friday 27th January

Sightings for Friday 27th January

Misty start but cleared during the day, water levels remain at about 65% flooding, all hides remain open apart from Allport hide. Sightings today: Whooper swan Bewick's swan Mute swan White-fronted goose Goldeneye Mallard Pochard Teal Tufted duck Wigeon M

27 January 2017

Recent Sightings

Recent Sightings

Sparrowhawk - Les Mccallum Millennium Wetlands 70 x Cormorant 2 x Little Grebe 1 x Grey Heron 2 x Mute Swan 41 x Gadwall 5 x Shelduck 23 x Mallard 3 x Teal 25 x Pintail 38 x Shoveler 5 x Pochard 14 x Tufted duck 1 x

27 January 2017

Water rail winter viewings

Water rail winter viewings

Water rail by Ray Mathias Easier to spot in cold weather, the secretive water rail has been out on show this week.  These brilliant views were from the North Wing Hide (luckily this is right next to our heated hide).

27 January 2017

Latest Sightings - 27th January - Sun and Ice

Latest Sightings - 27th January - Sun and Ice

A sunny but cold morning on the reserve and the swans are having to play at ice breakers this morning as most of the ponds are frozen solid. A drake Green-winged Teal is on the Flood Ground at the moment, no sign of one on the Folly Pond so it is probabl

27 January 2017

Recent sightings - 27th January

Recent sightings - 27th January

The following sightings were recorded today by Toni Castello, warden, near high tide. Estuary Oystercatcher 270, Shelduck +300, Redshank 40, Brent geese 15, Curlew 20,  Common Teal 2, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Black-tailed godwit 20, Little egret

27 January 2017

Wildlife sightings - 27/01/17

Wildlife sightings - 27/01/17

a.m. Tide Level: Low Wader Lake (30% frozen) Shelduck 6 Canada goose 1 Shoveler 1 Saline Lagoon (100% frozen) Hawthorn Wood Chaffinch 30 Bullfinch 20 Coal tit 6 Blue tit 13 Robin 3 Dunnock 5 Siskin 1 Goldfinch 3 Great tit 12 Other birds Black-headed gull

27 January 2017

Wildlife sightings for 27th January 2017

Wildlife sightings for 27th January 2017

3 Bittern - main lake, reservoir lagoon 5 Pintail - main lake 1 Kingfisher - South route 22 Fieldfare - flew over heading East, South West January bird highlights: Bittern, Waxwing, Jack Snipe, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Bearded Tit, Buzzard, Per

27 January 2017

And colder again

And colder again

Having thawed out a little yesterday, some of the open water has refrozen and moved birds around a little.  Its a gloriously sunny day though with plenty to see. Holden Tower Nine Cranes were on the Tack Piece by early morning, arriving in small groups s

27 January 2017

Glaucous gull - winter visitor

Glaucous gull - winter visitor

Glaucous gull by Ray Mathias When the marsh harrier is away, the gull.....gets its lunch?  This glaucous gull is a winter visitor to the UK.  Even this youngster is huge in size, it is worth checking through the gul

26 January 2017

Sightings Thursday 26th January

Sightings Thursday 26th January

No fog this morning but a very cold wind so wrap up warm if visiting today, all hides remain open apart from Allport, lots of Whooper swans and Wigeon can be seen from the Wigeon cafe.   Sightings today: Bewick's swan Whooper swan Egyptian goose Whit

26 January 2017

Make a Splash at the NE Puddle Jumping Championships

Make a Splash at the NE Puddle Jumping Championships

This February half term, children of all ages are being encouraged to grab their wellies, get outside and join in with the North East’s Puddle Jumping Championships being held at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. This year WWT’s new children’s characte

26 January 2017

Wildlife sightings - 26/01/17

Wildlife sightings - 26/01/17

a.m. Tide Level: Low Wader Lake Shelduck 23 Shoveler 6 Wigeon 2 Teal 10 Greylag 1 Mute swan 2 Lapwing 30 Redshank 4 Herring gull 6 adults + 4 junior Saline Lagoon Grey heron 2 Curlew 14 Hawthorn Wood Great spotted woodpecker 4 Willow tit 3 Long-tailed tit

26 January 2017

It's warmer, honest!

It's warmer, honest!

The temperature has warmed up a couple of degrees from the last few days and much of the reserve is now free of ice, apart from a few sheltered waterbodies which still have a slight covering.  The birds have responded by moving back in with a great selec

26 January 2017

Wildlife sightings for 26th January 2017

Wildlife sightings for 26th January 2017

5 Bittern - main lake S shore, resr lagoon N shore 2 Goosander (pr) - over W 8 Pintail - main lake, resr lagoon 11 Fieldfare - wildside and over SE 1 Little Grebe - marsh 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh 1 Peregrine - hunting over grazing marsh   Jan

26 January 2017

Brambling

Brambling

The cracking male Brambling continues to show at the Janet Kear feeding station along with Reed Buntings and an assortment of Tits and other finches. At least 2 Peregrines seen today an adult male and an imm male, also Marsh Harrier, sev Buzzard and Kestr

25 January 2017