News - Washington

Basking common darter

Basking common darter

While trying to get a photo of the elusive black darter yesterday morning, our reserve warden John got this nice shot of a common darter. It was basking on the boardwalk down at the amphibian ponds, which John and his team of volunteers have been working

1 September 2012

Saving the spoon-billed sandpiper film shows highs and lows of pioneering conservation project

Saving the spoon-billed sandpiper film shows highs and lows of pioneering conservation project

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ohpqYzBCU&list=UUQlb1STeXF0bnO74Kc9x9jw&index=1&feature=plcp'] Shot guerrilla-style, in the field by its stars, Saving the spoon-billed sandpiper brings real-life human drama to the nature document

17 August 2012

Fluffy babies abound at WWT Washington's duckery

Fluffy babies abound at WWT Washington's duckery

The patter of tiny webbed feet is echoing around WWT Washington’s duckery, as our rare and endangered waterbirds continue to hatch. Red-billed whistling duck The rainy weather in spring delayed the typical breeding

27 July 2012

The latest goings on from our wildlife reserve...

The latest goings on from our wildlife reserve...

Read on for the latest information from our reserve manager John Gowland about what's happening out on our wildlife reserve... Wader Lake: After the unseasonal summer weather and gull predation, I am pleased to confirm that two of our four avocet pairs h

22 July 2012

Wild family fun whatever the weather this summer!

Wild family fun whatever the weather this summer!

Get back to nature and join us for wild family fun at WWT Washington Wetland Centre this summer - whatever the weather! Daily otter feeds (image by Alan Hewitt) With a mixture of indoor and outdoor facilities - plus s

10 July 2012

Bot-any spare bathtubs? (And no, we're not having a bubble!)

Bot-any spare bathtubs? (And no, we're not having a bubble!)

Rub-a-dub-dub, can you spare WWT Washington Wetland Centre a tub!? Bathtubs already in use at the plant nursery Wardens at the Wearside nature reserve are on the sponge for some unusual donations to help their plant n

25 June 2012

Volunteers dig deep to help our very wet wetlands

Volunteers dig deep to help our very wet wetlands

Volunteers dug deep to help create vital new woodland habitat at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. The volunteers begin their task... Staff from Pentland Distribution Services (PDS) got their hands - and everything else!

22 June 2012

The latest from our wildlife reserve

The latest from our wildlife reserve

Read the latest wildlife reserve update from our reserve manager John Gowland...                 Wildlife sightings Despite the wet cool weather recently, a cuckoo was heard calling from the Wet Woodland area on Fr

17 June 2012

Saline lagoon on track with enticing new wildlife

Saline lagoon on track with enticing new wildlife

Our new saline lagoon, designed to open up our reserve to the River Wear corridor and the wildlife that inhabits it, has been visited by a roe deer. And it's not even finished! Wardens out in the grounds spotted the tracks and took the below snaps, the s

13 June 2012

Take photos while the sun shines!

Take photos while the sun shines!

'Flower Power' by Helen Louise Saunders Here comes the sun (well, err, till tomorrow at least!). Why not visit WWT Washington during the next couple of days and snap some photo comp shots like this while it'

13 June 2012

Artist of the month - Lawrence Patterson

Artist of the month - Lawrence Patterson

Don’t miss our latest wildlife photography exhibition, on show all month in the main corridor. Common whitethroat Lawrence ‘Lol’ Patterson – born and bred in Washington – took up photography as a hobby follo

2 June 2012

Get down(y) with the ducklings this spring half-term

Get down(y) with the ducklings this spring half-term

Downy duckling days are here again at WWT Washington Wetland Centre! There’s no cuter sight than a tiny fluffy chick taking its first wobbly steps, so why not gather your brood together this spring half-term and come and meet our latest feathered arriva

31 May 2012

Wildlife reserve update

Wildlife reserve update

With warm weather finally making an appearance and everything from birds to insects to flowers bursting into life, May is a great month to visit our wildlife reserve. Here’s the latest update from reserve manager John Gowland... “Following the predati

25 May 2012

New 50K interactive Pondzone makes a (recycled rainwater!) splash

New 50K interactive Pondzone makes a (recycled rainwater!) splash

The secret underwater world of pond creatures is being brought vividly to life, thanks to a new interactive pond dipping exhibit at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. The 50K Pondzone - which was generously funded by County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT),

15 May 2012

Oooh, avocet another new record!?

Oooh, avocet another new record!?

A bird which made local wildlife history when it hatched chicks on Wearside for the very first time looks set to break yet another record at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. Three of the avocet chicks with a parent (quite ha

29 April 2012