News
Walk away those Christmas calories this Boxing Day at WWT
Wake up on Boxing Day feeling like a pig in a blanket? Many of us overindulge on turkey, booze and Christmas pud, so why not clear those foggy heads with some fresh air and work off those festive excesses with a visit to a WWT wetland centre – one of t
21 October 2011
Rare plant blooms again, and frogs croak their confusion
It is rare enough to see a Deptford Pink in bloom as these nationally scarce plants are hard to find, but to discover one blossoming into October is unheard of. These delicate pink flowers usually come out in June until August but at WWT London Wetlan
21 October 2011
First Whooper swans ride the winds into WWT centres breaking a new record
The first Whooper swans of the season have arrived at Welney WWT centre, Norfolk, and at Caerlaverock WWT centre, Scotland, surprising spectators by arriving earlier than ever before. The record-breaking early arrivals are thought to have caught the north
21 October 2011
Join the frosty festive fun as the magic of Christmas unfolds at WWT centres
It is the most wonderful time of the year, and families are in for an early treat over the festive season at WWT’s nine wetland centres across the UK. From husky sleigh rides to Christmas wreath making workshops, there’s something to keep everyone ent
21 October 2011
First heat of WWT’s 2011-2012 Photography Competition hits the halfway mark
(Entered by Ben Cullen in the Young Photographer of the Year Award category, taken at Slimbridge) From shovelers at Slimbridge to otters at Washington – the entries into the autumn heat of the WWT 2011-2012 Photography Competition are flooding in.
21 October 2011
Bird moves get underway
The season is over; bird moves have begun! Already up to 150 birds have passed to and fro as part of the seasonal distribution of stock. It is a sad and exciting moment to see the birds you worked so hard to breed leave your care. They hatch and grow into
21 October 2011
Bewick's in Britain!
The first three Bewick's swans arrived at our Welney centre last night, officially kicking off the swan season here in the UK! The wind, although in the 'wrong' direction, was very light and the skies were clear so visibility was good for flying. Day l
21 October 2011
Conservation in action!
There is notable movement of song thrush on site today, with 11 birds spotted along the river footpath as I carried out the daily fence check this morning. I had a ‘conservation in action!’ moment as well, when I found 40 redwing feeding in the newly-
21 October 2011
Swan Spectacular begins at WWT Martin Mere
The first 500 Whooper swans have made the 900km journey from Iceland and arrived to spend the winter at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre. The swans arrived on Wednesday 19 October and included 32 cygnets which may be a good indication that the breeding seas
21 October 2011
Bewick's arrive
[...]
21 October 2011
Wildlife sightings
Wader Lake. Time - AM. Tide Level - Mid: Teal 80 Gadwall 2 Mallard 21 Shoveler 4 Black-headed gull 107 Greater black-backed gull 1 Lesser black-backed gull 4 [...]
21 October 2011
Eric! A trip to the beach
Well, not quite the beach... The three babes are now getting on for 500g, and spend much of their time clamouring for more food. Their distinct personalities are showing through well. Number 1 is (to me) perfection! (She) is ever so statuesque, graceful
20 October 2011
Whoopers fly in as Bewick's move closer!
The familiar bugling call and flashes of yellow and black beaks got the pulses racing at Slimbridge this morning but still no Bewick’s to be seen! Two whooper swans touched down on the reserve, intriguingly with two young mute swans. The whooper swan, w
20 October 2011
The story so far from Caerlaverock...
Barnacle geese numbers were up to 6,000 on 8 October, lower than last year due to the south westerly winds holding them back on the Norwegian coast but another 25-30,000 are due soon. The first whooper swans arrived earlier than before on 15 September
20 October 2011
October wildlife
Migrant Hawker October's always great for seeing a variety of birds at London Wetland Centre, from the pretty teal and wigeon, to the shy snipe, to the big brown showstopper of a bird, the bittern. But this October -
20 October 2011