News
Microscopy mystery - the answers!
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre was recently visited by a special guest and his even more special microscope camera. Emilien Leonhardt recently starred in BBC4's Miniature Britain and he and his microscope came to Slimbridge to snap some wetland animals, pl
16 August 2013
Wildlife sightings for 16th August 2013
48 Teal - wader scrape, main lake 30+ Shoveler - main lake 4 Snipe - wader scrape 2 Chiffchaff - wildside, South route Recent bird highlights: Little Egret, Peregrine, Red Kite, Hobby, Redshank, Greenshank, Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper
16 August 2013
Today's Sightings.
Robbie Garnett Hide Black Tailed Godwit 36 Green Sandpiper 5 Teal 15 Holden Tower Peregrine 1 Barnacle Geese 70 Little Egret 2 Buzzard 2 Lesser Whitethroat 1 Zeiss Hide Spoonbill 1 ad Greenshank 1 Redshank 1 Green Sandpiper 3 Teal 250 Shoveler 12 Kingfish
16 August 2013
Latest sightings
Wader Lake (AM, mid-tide) Lapwing - 150 Mallard - 56 Common tern - 4+ 10 chicks Coot - 1 Grey heron - 8 Shelduck - 3 Black-backed gull - 2 Black-headed gull - 10 Redshank - 33 Moorhen - 2 Saline lagoon: Mallard - 13 Oystercatcher - 2 Pied wagtail - 1 Grey
16 August 2013
Bird News
Another day without a majorly rare wader turning up on the reserve... Nonetheless some good viewing is to be had for those with patience. Raptors are still the stars of the show with at least 6 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. W
15 August 2013
Insect high!
Most notable at the moment are the number of different insects busying themselves around the reserve. Butterflies seem to be fluttering out of everywhere, including Brimstone, Red admiral, Small tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Meadow brown, Common Blue, Peacoc
15 August 2013
Educational exhibit on dangerous plants unveiled at WWT Martin Mere
A colourful exhibit which helps gardeners and pond owners to avoid the spread of damaging invasive non-native plants has been opened at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre. Invasive non-native plants and animals cost the British economy at least £1.7bn each y
15 August 2013
Today's sightings
Management work over next couple of weeks includes cutting rush in Top and Bottom New Piece, Tractor cutting parts of the Dumbles plus plant surveys here by EA today. Cutting views from some hides. Light disturbance to South Lake as new perimeter fence b
15 August 2013
15th of August Sightings
Weather: Cool with intermittent sunny spells and light rain showers Wader Lake - High Tide - AM Redshank - 36 Lapwing - 40 Common Tern 10 Common Snipe - 2 Oystercatcher - 1 Canada Goose - 5 Teal - 8 Gadwall - 1 Mallard - 15 Grey Heron - 7 Saline Lago
15 August 2013
Perfect Pond Season - 3
Guest blog by Nick Oliver The Perfect Pond Season was our way of marking the British Ecological Society’s Festival of Ecology. For seven weeks we went wild about all things pond. From fresh water sampling and reedbed walks for older children and adults,
15 August 2013
Making other days out seem a little dry!
Pond dipping by Heather Tait With the summer season in full swing, a visit to WWT Washington Wetland Centre can make other days out seem a little dry. Spending time near water is an essential summer experience and mak
15 August 2013
Wildlife sightings for 15th August 2013
6 Snipe - scrape, main lake 1 Common Sandpiper - main lake 1 Yellow Wagtail - scrape, then flew to main lake shingle islands near Observatory 2 Cetti's Warbler juveniles - Sand Martin bank bushes (the 3rd brood recorded this season) 3 Chiffchaff - wildsi
15 August 2013
Today's Sightings
4 Wheatear and a Marsh Harrier seen on Lady Fen close to the visitor centre and a Barn Owl perched outside the main doors at 8am.
14 August 2013
Marsh Harriers
Some excellent views of Marsh Harrier throughout the day. At least 4 different birds of late. The juveniles present could have come from any spot in the UK and we have had tag evidence of Scottish birds arriving on the reserve in the last 20 years. The ea
14 August 2013
Today's sightings
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece Spoonbill 1 Wood Sandpiper 1 Greenshank 2 juveniles Black-tailed Godwit 74 Little Egret 1 Greylag Goose 107 Barnacle Goose 140 South Lake Black-tailed Godwit 147 Redshank 74 Lapwing 258 Snipe 2 Spoonbill was present this morning S
14 August 2013