The patter of tiny webbed feet is on its way!
We're happy to announce that our singleton swan has been given the perfect fairytale ending with the arrival of two perfect eggs!
Following their Valentine's Day date and whirlwind courtship, Mrs Coscoroba and her new mate began nest-building and on 12 March - almost a month to the day that they first met – she laid the first of two eggs, with more now on the way.
Cute coscoroba cygnets like these will be hatching soon!Marketing manager Leanne McCormella said: “This is such lovely news and we’re all so happy that Mrs Coscoroba finally got the fairytale ending that she deserves.
“She’ll now continue to lay eggs for about another ten days, before incubating them all at the same time for a further 30 days. This means we’ll have some incredibly cute coscoroba cygnets around Easter time.”
And the coscoroba swans aren’t the only birds to be expecting the patter of tiny webbed feet soon...
Due to hatch this week are the eggs of the Hawaiian geese – or nenes (pronounced ‘naynays’) – with the first one already beginning to move about in the incubators up at Waterfowl Nursery.
The black swans have also begun laying and the first clutches of grey herons down at Wader Lake will be hatching in the coming days.
When they’re a little older, the gangly heron chicks - with their long legs and funny punky head feathers - can be watched on live CCTV from Waterside Cafe, as they find their feet high in the tree tops.
Elsewhere on site spring has most definitely sprung. Crocuses and primroses are in flower, as well as the gorse bushes on East Down; passerines (or songbirds) can be heard calling for territories, lapwing are staking their claims on nest sites at Wader Meadow and spring migrants such as little ringed plover, oystercatcher and avocet are arriving on Wader Lake.
Leanne added: “Two avocets, a male and a female, have been present for two days now and are settling and feeding well. This species has bred successfully at WWT Washington since 2006 so we’re hopeful that this year will make it six in a row.”
Whatever the season, come rain or shine – WWT Washington is the perfect place to connect with nature. Enjoy beautiful scenery, special events and unforgettable wildlife encounters, 364 days a year. Excellent access, free wheelchair hire, café, gift shop and play area. WWT members go FREE.
For the latest news and wildlife sightings follow us on Twitter @WWTWashington or on Facebook by becoming friends with Floyd Flamingo.
