News

Spring is near! First Bewick's swan of the season has left for the Arctic

Spring is near! First Bewick's swan of the season has left for the Arctic

Leho, who arrived at WWT Welney on December 15, has called time on his winter holiday and begun the 2500km epic trip back to his summer dwellings in Arctic Russia. After leaving the reserve at 7am, the enthusiastic swan crossed over the North Sea in two a

20 February 2018

Sightings for Tuesday 20th February

Sightings for Tuesday 20th February

Slightly damp start to the day here at Welney, although it's starting to look brighter as the day goes on. All hides are open, although wellies/sturdy shoes are needed to access the Reedbed Hide as the path remains muddy. Sightings today so far: Whooper

20 February 2018

Wildlife sightings - 20/02/2018

Wildlife sightings - 20/02/2018

Wader Lake (AM, low tide): Female pintail (first record for at least five years) Black-tailed godwit 2 Mute swan 2 Grey heron 26 Tufted duck 6 (2 male, 4 female) Oystercatcher 4 Kestrel 2 (pair) Gadwall 2 (pair) Common snipe 9 Eurasian wigeon 3 (2 male, o

20 February 2018

Wildlife sightings for 20th February 2018

Wildlife sightings for 20th February 2018

1 Buzzard  - over E 1115hrs 1 Peregrine - perched on Charing Cross Hospital 1 Bittern - main lake N shore 147 Lapwing 4 Shelduck - wader scrape, main lake 1 Goldeneye - main lake 6 Pintail - main lake, marsh, sheltered lagoon 4 Siskin - south route 1

20 February 2018

Today's Highlights

Today's Highlights

Tree sparrow House sparrow Goldfinch Reed bunting Fieldfare Blackbird Starling Pheasant Great egret Little egret Moorhen Coot Lapwing Snipe Black-tailed godwit Shelduck Shoveler Wigeon Teal Pochard Mallard Goldeneye Greylag geese Whooper swan Mute swan Ke

19 February 2018

Recent Sightings 19th February 2018

Recent Sightings 19th February 2018

A mild morning here at Castle Espie. The following sightings were recorded today at low tide: Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Shelduck 38, Little egret 2, Brent 68, Oystercatcher 120, Wigeon 40, Lesser black-backed gul

19 February 2018

Wildlife sightings for 19th February 2018

Wildlife sightings for 19th February 2018

2 Bittern - main lake SE corner and N shore 2 Jack Snipe - wader scrape 1 Goldeneye - main lake 4 Shelduck - wader scrape, main lake 6 Pintail - main lake, grazing marsh, reservoir lagoon 3 Snipe - reservoir lagoon, main lake (showing well from Headl

19 February 2018

1, 2, 3, doh

1, 2, 3, doh

This weekend is the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) date for February.  Counters across the UK are surveying their sites for ducks, geese, swans, waders and other wetland species to help build a picture of how populations are fairing this year for our winteri

18 February 2018

Reserve Update Sunday 18th February

Reserve Update Sunday 18th February

A wet start to the day, with the weather clearing up now. The Wetland Bird Survey takes place today, with some numbers for the inland ponds included below. There is a large number of Pintail on the flood ground, with a good mix of both females and males.

18 February 2018

Sightings for Sunday 18th February

Sightings for Sunday 18th February

Mild bright start to the day here at Welney, all hides remain open, parts of the footpaths may still muddy in places so good footwear is needed. Sightings so far today: Mute swan Whooper swan Greylag goose Pink-footed goose Tundra bean goose Goldeneye Mal

18 February 2018

Wildlife sightings for 18th February 2018

Wildlife sightings for 18th February 2018

4 Bittern - main lake N+S shores + SE corner 138 Shoveler - site count 4 Shelduck - wader scrape 12 Pintail - main lake, grazing marsh, sheltered lagoon 3 Jack Snipe (possibly 4) - wader scrape 18 Fieldfare - wader scrape bank 3 Stonechat - grazing mar

18 February 2018

Bittern Booming

Bittern Booming

A good start to the weekend with the sound of a Bittern booming out on the Reed Bed. Never an easy bird to see, Bittern have been heard regularly booming at the start of spring at Martin Mere but these birds have only ever been winter visitors. More A

17 February 2018

Tack Piece still at its best.

Tack Piece still at its best.

More stunning birding on the Tack Piece. Whitefronted Goose around 90 flew in from the north and stayed on view for 30 minutes before heading back again. Wigeon 900 Teal 300 Pintail 300 Shoveler 20 Golden Plover 700 Lapwing 1600 Dunlin 600 Ruff 11 Redsha

17 February 2018

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Mute swan Whooper swan Bewick's swan Greylag Tundra bean goose Pink-footed goose Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Gadwall Pintail Wigeon Teal Pochard Tufted duck Goldeneye Great-crested grebe Coot Moorhen Grey heron Great egret (x2) Little egret Oystercatcher Bl

17 February 2018

Wildlife sightings for 17th February 2018

Wildlife sightings for 17th February 2018

2 Bittern - main lake North shore & SE corner 4 Shelduck - main lake, wader scrape 7 Pintail - main lake 1 Jack Snipe - wader scrape 3 Snipe - main lake 12 Siskin 11 Fieldfare - wader scrape bank 1 Peregrine - perched on hospital ledge 170+ Cormorant

17 February 2018