News
Friends of Welney celebrate 20 years
We are going to be saying happy birthday to the Friends of Welney this summer as they celebrate their 20th anniversary. Members of Friends of Welney will be invited to a special evening held at the reserve to say thank you for their hard work. Set up in
27 April 2011
Still no third egg
At the end of the CCTV recording yesterday I could still see only two eggs on the nest. This morning the female has been sitting tight on the nest most of the morning and has built up the grass and twigs at the front of the nest so that it is difficult to
26 April 2011
Real-life Easter eggs hatch at WWT Washington
An eggs-tra special Easter surprise hatched at WWT Washington this bank holiday weekend in the form of two beautiful black swan cygnets. The fluffy pair was first spotted in the nest by wardens on Easter Sunday and yesterday they could be seen enjoying th
26 April 2011
Can't see the third egg yet
Like yesterday AW has been doing a lot of nest duty today sitting on the eggs. He spent nearly 2 hours this morning before his mate came in and took over. Due to the build up of nest material on the edge of the nest it is very difficult to see if a 3rd eg
25 April 2011
Night-vision adds a new dimension to bat walks
Bat Walks begin on May 12 Navigating the night isn’t a problem for bats. Now visitors to Arundel Wetland Centre will be able to watch these winged wonders under cloak of darkness, with the aid of night-vision equipment. Starting this May, corporate part
22 April 2011
Osprey Easter egg number two laid this morning
When the CCTV images came on this morning we could see AW stand up on the nest and between his legs there were 2 eggs. If we didn't know better it looked as if he had just laid them! A second lighter and more speckled egg was beside the very russet first
22 April 2011
Easter eggs to boost crane numbers in England
A clutch of very special Easter eggs arrived at WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire this morning – 14 common crane eggs from Germany. Some are hatching now and the rest are expected to hatch over the Easter weekend, making them some of the most signific
21 April 2011
Early birds catch the dawn chorus
International Dawn Chorus Day, on 1 May, is the worldwide celebration of nature's daily miracle. Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust centres across the country are offering a unique opportunity to enjoy their wonderful wildlife reserves before daybreak as we cele
21 April 2011
No sign of egg number two yet
It looks hot on the osprey nest today as the birds bask in the spring sunshine. AW has flown in to take his turn on the nest 3 times today, once with a fish for his mate. We have also seen a mating attempt on the nest this morning, a precarious operation
21 April 2011
Kate Mitchell
Nature in graphic detail A stunning photographic exhibition will open at the Graffan Gallery, at Castle Espie Wetland Centre, outside Comber in County Down, on Saturday 14 May and run until Monday 31 May 2011. Featured artist, Kate Mitchell will bring an
21 April 2011
First egg laid this morning
As the CCTV system came on at the centre this morning the female was sitting tight on the nest. Was she on the first egg? Emma watched patiently and at 10.20am she saw the female stand up and sure enough there was the first egg of the season in the cup of
19 April 2011
There is no such thing as an ugly duckling!
There is no such thing as an ugly duckling at WWT Castle Espie Come for an eggstra special day out and support conservation WWT Castle Espie is inviting parents in Northern Ireland to treat their families to a day out with a difference this Easter. Spring
19 April 2011
Yet more sticks and more mating
Over the weekend we have seen both ospreys bringing in more sticks to the nest. AW as ever is a bit optimistic in thinking he can find the final resting place for his sticks on the nest. His mate rearranges his endeavours as sooon as he leaves. There have
18 April 2011
Expecting eggs
We are all eagerly expecting eggs to be laid by our osprey pair in the next few days. There has certainly been plenty of matings and lots of nest additions and 'cup scraping' which are all good signs of the birds being well bonded to the nest site and bei
16 April 2011
Two's company, three's a crowd, four's a colony!
A bird which made local wildlife history when it hatched chicks on Wearside for the very first time looks set to break another record at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. The avocets as a trio, before the fourth arrived. Image courtesy of Ray Wilby. Four avo
16 April 2011