News
Sand martins check in for summer
The first sand martins of the season have arrived back at WWT Washington Wetland Centre and have shown early interest in a new nesting bank. The artificial bank, which has space for one hundred nesting pairs, was built in October last year in anticipa
2 April 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 01/04/2024
Weather: Wet River Wear Tide Level: midWader Lake SpeciesAvocet - 35Sand Martin - 1 (Singing) (4 yesterday)Graylag Goose - 14Canada Goose - 20Shelduck - 15Gadwall - 4Teal - 18Tufted Duck - 34Shoveler - 14Coot - 4Lapwing - 10Redshank - 11Hawthorn Wood Bird
1 April 2024
Early signs of spring around our wetlands
It might still be chilly out there, but some early spring signs are already starting to appear around our wetlands. There’s something rather exhilarating about the arrival of this most hopeful of seasons; the natural world on the cusp of new life and n
1 April 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 31/03/2024
Weather: sunny / brightRiver Wear Tide Level: highWader Lake SpeciesAvocet - 27Shoveler - 12Teal - 25Redshank - 13Graylag Goose -31Canada Goose - 26Black-headed Gull - 25Shelduck - 41Tufted Duck - 11Grey Heron - 16 + 2 chicksHerring Gull - 5Lesser black-b
31 March 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 30/03/2024
Weather: sunnyRiver Wear Tide Level: MidWader Lake SpeciesMute Swan - 4Shelduck - 30Graylag Goose - 8Gadwall - 6Shoveler - 4Teal Duck - 10Tufted Duck - 8Oystercatcher - 4Avocet - 33Redshank - 6Lapwing - 21Grey Heron - 31Hawthorn Wood Bird Feeding AreaSisk
30 March 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 29/032024
Weather: sunnyRiver Wear Tide Level: MidWader Lake SpeciesMute Swan - 4Canada Goose - 35Graylag Goose - 9Tufted Duck - 25Avocet - 10Shoveler Duck - 9Shelduck - 33Black-headed Gull - 20Oystercatcher - 4Redshank - 13Teal Duck - 17Lapwing - 20Hawthorn Wood B
29 March 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 28/03/2024
Weather: Overcast, sunny spells, showersRiver Wear Tide Level: MidWader Lake SpeciesGreylag Goose - 6Canada Goose - 29Mute Swan - 2Shelduck - 28Shoveler - 4 (2 female, 2 male)Tufted Duck - 16Stock Dove - 2Oystercatcher - 2Lapwing - 14Lesser Black-backed G
28 March 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 27/03/2024
Weather: Rainy, overcastRiver Wear Tide Level: LowWader Lake SpeciesTeal - 2Gadwall - 1 maleBlack-headed Gull - 23Greylag Goose- 21Shelduck - 27Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1Shoveler - 6 (2 female, 4 male)Herring Gull - 33Oystercatcher - 4Canada Goose - 32
27 March 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 25/03/2024
Weather: RainyRiver Wear Tide Level: LowWader Lake SpeciesHerring Gull - 35Mute Swan - 4Pied Wagtail - 1Shelduck - 26Shoveler - 4 (3 male, 1 female)Grey Heron - 20 (1 juvenile)Canada Goose - 20Black-headed Gull - 10Greylag x Canada Goose - 1Oystercatcher
27 March 2024
Things to do this Easter at WWT Washington
Attention outdoor adventurers - get ready for some Easter Fun with the whole family!
27 March 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 24/03/2024
Weather: SunnyRiver Wear Tide Level: LowWader Lake SpeciesGreylag Goose - 5Canada Goose - 26Mute Swan - 2Shelduck - 19 (1 female colour-ringed yellow/red)Shoveler - 6Oystercatcher - 2Lapwing - 2Black-headed Gull - 114Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1Avocet - 1
24 March 2024
Wildlife Sightings - 23/03/2024
Weather = Sunny/windyRiver Tide = LowWater Level = MidWader Lake SpeciesOystercatcher - 5Avocet -22Lapwing - 6Shelduck - 23Gadwall - 2Tufted Duck - 10Shoveler - 4Teal - 2Graylag Goose - 8Canada x Graylag Goose - 13 + 1 (Canalag)Black Headed Gull - 56Herri
23 March 2024
New black swan cygnets hatch at WWT Washington
Three is the magic number at Washington Wetland Centre as they welcome the arrival of three charming black swan cygnets. The black swan pair – who were first introduced in May 2021 - have done a fantastic job laying and protecting their clutch of egg
22 March 2024
Wildlife Sightings 22/03/2024
Weather = Sunny/BreezyRiver Tide = LowWater Level = MidWader Lake SpeciesBlack Headed Gull x Heditterranean Gull - 1Black Headed Gull - 139Herring Gull - 21Avocet - 6Oystercatcher - 4Lapwing - 1Starling (meadow) - 1Tufted Duck - 6Shoveler - 4Teal - 1Shel
22 March 2024
Visitor donation supports opening of new wildlife hide
We’re delighted to announce that a new wildlife viewing hide is now open to visitors. The Vic Robins hide - which is on the east side of Wader Lake - was kindly funded by WWT Washington visitor Viv Coy. Viv and her husband Vic visited the Princes Trust
21 March 2024