News
It's a cold one
With the mercury dipping below freezing overnight it wasn't a surprise to find many of the shallow water bodies at least partly frozen this morning. This pushes the duck into tight groups or to other deeper water, and can push waders off the reserve to
22 November 2018
Skylark migrating west in frosty conditions
2 Skylark - over W 2 Shelduck - wader scrape 5 Snipe - marsh(3), main lake(2) 1 Water Pipit - marsh 2 Redpoll - sheltered lagoon (feeding on Alders with flock of Blue Tit, Goldcrest) November bird highlights: Short-eared Owl, Shelduck, Goldeneye,
22 November 2018
A few more swans
Bewick's Swans increased again this morning with 58 birds now on the Rushy, but still just our two family groups - a brood of three with parents Dario and Bridges, and a single cygnet with parents Stephen and Shelby. Robbie Garnett Hide Amongst the severa
21 November 2018
Sightings for Wednesday 21st November
Bright but chilly day here at Welney today, lots of activity in front of the Main observatory, all hides remain open as is the Summer walk. Sightings so far today: Bewick swan Mute swan Whooper swan Bean goose Canada goose Greylag goose Mallard Pintail Po
21 November 2018
Winter finally begins at Slimbridge with “swanfall”
The annual ‘swanfall’ at WWT Slimbridge has kicked off with a flurry of Bewick’s swans checking in for the winter. A total of 51 birds completed the final leg of their migration during the recent crisp nights. They join Indri, the first of the Bewi
21 November 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 21st November
The ducks, waders and geese are loving the Lochar field this morning down at Avenue Tower. Over three hundred each of Wigeon and Lapwing feeding around (and in!) the flooded grassland. They are joined by good numbers of Barnacle Geese and over 50 Curl
21 November 2018
Pintail showing well on the grazing marsh
1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 2 Pintail - grazing marsh 2 Shelduck - wader scrape 6 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape 1 Bittern - main lake N shore 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh 2 Peregrine - perched on the hospital 2 Chiffchaff - South route, shelt
21 November 2018
Wildlife sightings - 21/11/18
a.m. Tide Level: Low Wader Lake Teal 7 Shelduck 5 Northern shoveller 4 Black-headed gull 1 Saline Lagoon Shelduck 2 Teal 9 Hawthorn Wood Great spotted woodpecker 3 Coal tit 2 Chaffinch 3 Blue tit 8 Great tit 5 Bullfinch 2 Goldfinch 5 Willow tit 1 Robin 1
21 November 2018
Annual 'swanfall' begins as Slimbridge welcomes over 50 migratory Bewick's swans
The annual ‘swanfall’ at WWT Slimbridge has kicked off with a flurry of Bewick’s swans checking in for the winter. A total of 51 birds completed the final leg of their migration during the recent crisp nights. They join Indri, the first of the Be
20 November 2018
Recent sightings 17th - 20th November
Avocet, Cr. Rob Werran British Steel Hide Plenty of waders still being seen over the saline lagoons with 239 Dunlin, 387 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Redshank, 17 Greenshank, 156 Lapwing and a lone Snipe. The Spoonbill
20 November 2018
What Brexit means for nature
Heard much about the environment in the Brexit debate? We haven’t either. However the next few weeks turn out with the current political turmoil, Brexit is likely to have serious positive and negative impacts on our wildlife and their habitats. Ai
20 November 2018
Latest WWT science journal shines light on lives of wetland birds
New details of the lives of wetland birds are revealed for the first time in the latest issue of Wildfowl, published by WWT. The charity’s scientific journal, published annually and first printed 70 years ago, is a way of sharing new research that co
20 November 2018
Winds from the East
As the easterly winds set in and the temperature falls we should see an increase in wildfowl coming out of continental Europe. The other great thing about easterlies at Martin Mere is that the wind won't be blowing through most of the hide windows. Altho
20 November 2018
Today's sightings
Bewick's swan Whooper swan Mute swan Greylag Canada goose Bean goose (x3) Pink-footed goose Egyptian goose (x4) Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Wigeon Teal Pochard Cormorant Coot Moorhen Great egret Little egret Curlew (x3) Black-tailed godwit Ruff Reds
20 November 2018
Now 48 Bewick's Swans
The Bewick's Swan flock has increased to 48 with more arrivals overnight. The single bird Indri remains on the Big Pen with the rest of the flock spending their time between the Tack Piece and Rushy Pen. A second family has turned up, pair with one cygnet
20 November 2018