News
Latest Sightings - 31st December - a windy start
Very windy on the reserve this morning, but we are open as normal. Extra care should be taken if you plan to visit today. The wind is forecast to drop this afternoon. There are great numbers of Barnacle Geese in the fields this morning. The wind means the
31 December 2017
Flooding update
Due to recent rains and snow melting along the Great River Ouse, the Ouse washes is currently flooding to depths where it effects our hides. Unfortunately Reedbed hide is now closed, and all hides excluding the main observatory will require wellies. Water
30 December 2017
Sightings Saturday 30th December
Bright mild start to the day, there is now flood water on the reserve so wellies are a must for getting to the hides which are all open apart from Reedbed hide which is closed due to the flooding. However there are quite good numbers of birds to see, with
30 December 2017
Flooding and birds
Holden Tower Heavy flooding has attracted lots of birds to the Tack Piece especially. Bewick's Swan 45 Whitefronted Goose flock in fields to north. Barnacle Goose 180 (Introduced resident flock). Red Breasted Goose 1 (probably escaped or feral bird) Greyl
30 December 2017
Latest Sightings - 30th December - snow all gone
The snow has all melted leaving the roads and paths just wet. The female Greater Scaup is still on the Whooper Pond along with very good numbers of other duck. The Folly Pond is also very busy today having thawed out overnight. Named Whooper Swan arrivals
30 December 2017
Wildlife sightings for 30th December 2017
1 Bittern - main lake 4 Pintail - main lake, reservoir lagoon 2 Shelduck - wader scrape 6 Redwing - sheltered lagoon 2 Stonechat - grazing marsh 1 Redpoll - wildside December bird highlights: Jack Snipe, Goldeneye, Brent Goose, Little Egret, Great White
30 December 2017
Twelve months of Christmas
As 2017 wraps up, we’ve picked out our favourite highlights of the year to celebrate 12 months of Christmas. What an absolute cracker! January Work to save the Salt Hill Stream in Slough got underway as dozens of local volunteers stepped up to re
29 December 2017
Cattle Egret still
The Cattle Egret was still in the field by Ron Baker hide this morning but then flew distantly to the distant fields near the large cream barns on the edge of the reserve, best viewed from upstairs in the UU Hide. At least 1 Little Egret was also seen fro
29 December 2017
Welney Sightings
Whooper swan Bewick's swan Mute swan Greylag Canada goose Cormorant Tufted duck Mallard Pochard Shoveler Wigeon Teal Pintail Gadwall Moorhen Coot Great egret Black-tailed godwit Lapwing Black-headed gull Lesser black-backed gull Starling Wren Tree sparrow
29 December 2017
Recent Sightings (23rd-29th Dec)
British Steel Hide Wader counts on the saline lagoons have included 419 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Greenshank, 4 Snipe, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Redshank, 199 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Knot, 287 Lapwing and 10 Curlew. Wildfowl counts incl
29 December 2017
A wet start
After the downpour this morning the already wet fields are even wetter, much to the delights of the birds. The weather dried up around dawn and then cleared up by mid-morning leaving sunny spells on another glorious winter's day. We saw another new pa
29 December 2017
Latest Sightings - 29th December - snow and ice
A hard frost and then snow overnight has made the roads and paths a bit slippery this morning. The snow is starting to thaw, and it is now more like rain falling. Not had chance to get around the reserve yet, so this is more an update from the last
29 December 2017
Wildlife sightings for 29th December 2017
1 Bittern - main lake (N shore) 3 Shelduck - main lake 1 Goldeneye - main lake 4 Snipe - grazing marsh, main lake 2 Fieldfare - grazing marsh 1 Jack Snipe - wader scrape December bird highlights: Jack Snipe, Goldeneye, Brent Goose, Little Egret, Great
29 December 2017
A perfect winter's day
Glorious, probably the only word to describe today once the ground had thawed. The Tack Piece and Top New Piece once again filled with thousands of birds, delighting hides full of visitors enjoying the winter wildlife spectacle that is Slimbridge. Sout
28 December 2017
Cattle Egret
A Cattle Egret was with cattle in the field to the right of Ron Baker Hide this afternoon, also a few Little Egret around. A juvenile Peregrine was seen a few times along with 1 or 2 Marsh Harrier. Merlin has been seen in recent days. Male Stonechat from
28 December 2017