News
Barn Owl
A Barn Owl was out hunting again late afternoon from Ron Barker Hide, the 3 Peregrines were on view most of the day but no sign of the Hen Harrier or Merlin, but the usual Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were all seen. 2 Raven were on view during
23 February 2013
Todays Sightings
Rushy Bewicks Swan 225 overnight, no big mevements yet. Pintail 120 Redshank 1 Oystercatcher 1 Martin Smith Hide Snipe just the one showing closely this morning. Wigeon 300 Buzzard 1 on the fence. Holden Tower Whitefronted Goose 193 (small groups flying o
23 February 2013
Wildlife sightings for 23rd February 2013
4 Bittern - 2 in front of Headley hide, 1 N shore reservoir lagoon, 1 in channel nearest wildside hide 6 Pintail (5m 1f) 51 Wigeon - wader scrape, grazing marsh 157 Cormorant - main lake (Peacock Tower closed today due to high winds affecting the roof til
23 February 2013
Hen Harrier
A male Hen Harrier was again reported from Ron Barker Hide along with a Merlin. Good numbers of waders at the moment included a count of 103 Ruff, 4 Black tailed Godwit, 35 Oystercatcher and 22 Avocet. There are also several Ringed Plover around the site
22 February 2013
First signs of spring migration!
Spring migration has officially started with groups of Bewick’s seen making their way across the Netherlands! Ornithologist Martin Jansen sent this news from Holland: ‘Yesterday morning and also this morning I have seen many Bewick’s flying north-ea
22 February 2013
I just got to thinking...
BAP my hyper angry girl! I have read that incubation temperature regulation has often been tentatively linked to determining sex in some waterfowl species. I cannot deny that in 2012 we hatched a clutch of 8 female
22 February 2013
Five cygnets hatch at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre
WWT Martin Mere’s black swans have defied the recent cold weather to hatch 5 cygnets this week. Centre Manager, Andy Wooldridge, said: “The black swans were paired together last year and they immediately had 3 cygnets last March, so it is fantastic th
22 February 2013
Todays Sightings
WADER LAKE/AM/LOW TIDE Grey Heron - 25 Shelduck - 16 Canada Goose - 6 Greylag - 6 Teal - 10 Gadwall - 2 Oystercatcher - 2 SALINE LAGOON/AM Shelduck - 6 HAWTHORN WOOD/AM Siskin - 8 Bullfinch - 11 Chaffinch - 7 Greenfinch - 1 Long-tailed Tit -
22 February 2013
The Tom Daley of the duck world hits a record high at WWT Welney
Tufted duck by David Howarth Staff at WWT Welney have recorded the largest ever number of tufted ducks on the Ouse Washes, with numbers hitting an all time high of 3,477. Affectionately known as ‘tufties’, due to
22 February 2013
Wildlife sightings for 22nd February 2013
50 Lapwing - main lake 4 Redwing - carpark 1 Stonechat - grazing marsh fence seen from wildside hide 4 Redpoll - entrance area 1 Peregrine - over river (Peacock Tower closed today due to high winds effecting the roof tiles. All other hides open as usual)
22 February 2013
Today's sightings
Bittern showing well again from the Zeiss hide by James Lees Bitterns (3) The showy bird continues to perform well in front of the Zeiss Hide, and 2 more were seen by a work party on the reserve. The Zeiss Hide Bittern 1 Showing down to 15 feet feedin
22 February 2013
Inside the new flamingo house
The new Flamingo Lagoon exhibit at WWT Slimbridge contains one of the largest, purpose-built flamingo houses in any zoo that you will visit. Whilst this house is not actually on show to visitors, you can get a good idea of its scale when you are looking
21 February 2013
Today's sightings-Goshawk again...
Considering we are approaching the time of year that sees bird departures and decreasing numbers of birds we are retaining an excellent variety of birds. The warmer days recently have introduced lots of bird song and a butterfly or two have been seen ou
21 February 2013
Pintail
The winter's highest count of Pintail this morning with just over 700 of this elegant duck around the reserve. Martin Mere is undoubtedly one of the best spots in the UK to see this species. Another fine, if cold day. No rise in Avocet numbers(!) with 28
21 February 2013
Secretive snipe
Whilst carring out the bird counts on the reserve this morning there seemed to be a distinct lack of Snipe. I counted two from the sand martin hide and four from the scrape hide. When I had returned to the centre, checking the Arun riverlife lake, two flo
21 February 2013