Reserve update - whilst we are closed let us bring the reserve to you.
Whilst our Welney Wetland Centre is closed to the public, our much reduced team continue working behind the scenes. Caring for the wetland habitat and wildlife, bringing the reserve to you the only way we currently can on the website and social media.
Whilst our Welney Wetland Centre is closed to the public, our much reduced team continue working behind the scenes. Caring for the wetland habitat and wildlife, bringing the reserve to you the only way we currently can on the website and social media. Hopefully these weekly updates from the site will help you keep connected to our wildlife, the essential work that is carrying on and pull together links across our website and projects which you might find interesting.
There have so far been three confirmed Project Godwit birds back at Welney Remi, Denver and Daughter of Earith – we've spotted them in amongst the larger flocks of Icelandic godwits yet to migrate north. Project Godwit have made available a classroom pack on the website – with lesson plans and worksheet activities which you can include in your homeschooling - https://projectgodwit.org.uk/get-involved/schools/materials/
Spring is now underway with avocets displaying and scraping on the main lagoon, lapwing pairs nesting on Lady Fen, marsh harriers displaying over the reedbed and snipe drumming in the sky over the washes. The small team that remain on site have also witnessed nocturnal migration – this is something you can listen out for at night from your own garden – birds leaving this region would include redwing and fieldfare, and there are still some whooper swans on site yet to migrate. During the day in sunny, warm conditions watch the sky above your garden for migrating birds of prey, maybe spotting osprey or honey buzzard, or some resident birds of prey may also be using the thermals to get some altitude for flying too like common buzzard and marsh harrier.
Wildlife highlights from this week have included common cranes flying over, water rail and all three species of egret. We have also seen an increase in insect life, which you may well have witnessed in your own garden. With a few more flowers opening up to the sunshine to provide pollinators with a place to feed. A great way to encourage and enjoy wildlife in your own garden is with the addition of a pond. You could plan and create a new wetland feature for your garden, or investigate an existing pond, here are some top tips to help you along the way - https://www.wwt.org.uk/news/2019/04/16/10-reasons-to-add-a-pond-to-your-garden/16731
Winter flood water levels continue to recede on the reserve, revealing areas for birds to breed on. However, the amount of water we have seen flowing through the Ouse Washes this winter has left its mark by relocating some of the reserve infrastructure moved, like this bike bridge which will need replacing once the team are back on site. There is also a lot of debris left from water flowing through the reserve – both vegetation and plastic.
