News
News from the heron hedge
Grey heron chicks in the nest - how many will hatch this year!? With at least three birds starting to sit tight on eggs this week, our grey heron colony - one of the UK's largest - will be one of our reserve's bigge
13 February 2014
Wildlife reserve update
Grey heron by John Bridges The grey heron colony has begun its annual return to Wader Lake, with 12 birds spotted showing nesting behaviour in the heron hedge during the first week of February. These majestic waders t
5 February 2014
High tide spectacle at saline lagoon
The latest from the saline lagoon...on Friday 31 January we will experience one of the highest tides of 2014 as the River Wear floods into our newest habitat. Exciting, yes, but even more so because it will happen while the centre is still open to the pub
29 January 2014
Centre shortlisted for top tourism accolade
Staff and volunteers at WWT Washington Wetland Centre are thrilled to announce that we've reached the finals of the North East England Tourism Awards for the third year in a row. Our centre has been shortlisted in the Best Small Visitor Attraction categ
16 October 2013
Flamingo update
One of the chicks appears to be practicing yoga, with a valiant attempt at 'downward facing dog'! WWT Washington's Chilean flamingos chicks (or 'flamingilings', as they're affectionately known) have finished hatching
8 October 2013
Hatchin' action as flamingo chicks are hand-reared
Chilean flamingo chicks are once again being hand-reared at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. A newly-hatched and dried out Chilean flamingo Following last September’s pioneering project - which saw juvenile flamingos,
1 October 2013
The latest from the saline lagoon
Black-tailed godwit by Ian Hamilton It has been 18 months since the River Wear first breached its banks and entered the saline lagoon. Since then, a host of wildlife has visited or moved into the newly-developed area,
16 September 2013
Breeding first for Abyssinian blue-winged geese
Abyssinian blue-winged gosling at one-day-old An Abyssinian blue-winged goose has hatched at WWT Washington Wetland Centre for the very first time! The young gosling was incubated and hatched by aviculture expert Owe
5 September 2013
Duckery update
The latest news on what’s been ‘matching and hatching' among our rare and endangered waterbirds... Red-billed whistling duck The breeding season is coming to a close up at the duckery, but there’s still time to
20 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 reserve update
I’m pleased to report that all 12 avocet young have successfully fledged from Wader Lake. An avocet In the past, once the young avocets have fledged, they quickly depart site. But this year, the young birds have b
8 August 2013
Help count and conserve butterflies this summer
Joanna Lumley promoting the Big Butterfly Count at the London Wetland Centre Screen legend and passionate environmental campaigner Joanna Lumley has officially launched the Big Butterfly Count 2013 at WWT London Wetl
24 July 2013
Whittling in the wetlands
Woodworker Mark Crowley was here recently making walking sticks, whistles and funny wooden faces with recycled wood and natural sticks up at the barn. He's back on Friday 23 August (when our birds of prey event is on too) from 11am-2pm, so why not come o
23 July 2013
See moths while the sun shines - July reserve update
Chimney sweeper moth "The recent hot weather has seen many day-flying moths across site and we’re having a great year for the often overlooked chimney sweeper moth (Odezia atrata) which can be found at Old Oak Meado
17 July 2013
Returning avocets set new wildlife record
A bird which made local wildlife history when it hatched chicks at WWT Washington for the very first time has broken yet another record. An avocet with two chicks (Ian Hamilton 2012) Four pairs of avocet have nested a
21 June 2013