Washington news
Washington warden joins international effort to save swan species
Catching and ringing Bewick’s swans on the Russian tundra is no normal business trip. The birds are truly wild and as such favour the remote. Our reserve warden David Dinsley spent two weeks alongside these iconic birds in August as part of Expedition B
4 September 2018
Essential work on Wader Lake in September
After another breeding season on Wader Lake, it's time to get the area in top condition for the arrival of autumn and winter wading birds. This September, our reserve management team along with a group of dedicated volunteers will be doing some work to
3 September 2018
No entry to Spring Gill today (12/07/16)
We’re undertaking essential work at Window on the Wear today which involves some heavy plant machinery - unfortunately this means that the fox proof gates into Spring Gill and the amphibian ponds will be closed for the day. The rest of the site includin
12 July 2016
Avocet numbers reach new record high
Regionally rare avocets have achieved a site history as the highest number has been recorded on site this year. WWT Washington Wetland Centre welcomed the first of its iconic wading birds of the season on 4 March, with numbers fluctuating over the followi
16 June 2016
Sighting 8/5/16
Wader Lake (Time/AM Tide/Low) Common Sandpiper: 1 Avocet: 18 Gadwall: 8 Shoveler: 3 Lapwing: 20 Common Tern: 21 Little Ringed Plover: 2 Saline Lagoon (Time - AM Tide - Low) Shelduck: 3 Gadwall: 2 Tufted Duck: 4 Oyst
9 May 2016
Wild otters show encouraging behaviour
Newly installed otter holts on the River Wear alongside WWT Washington Wetland Centre have had some encouraging signs of use following their installation last year. The work was funded by Sunderland City Council as part of their New Wear Crossing Proje
15 April 2016
Regionally rare wading bird returns
Regionally rare avocets have begun their annual return to a North East wetland reserve. WWT Washington Wetland Centre welcomed the first of its iconic wading birds of the season on 4 March – just 10 days later than the site’s previous record of 23 Feb
4 March 2016
Breeding bird update
Each year our reserve manager John produces a Breeding Bird Survey Summary, detailing the successes and stories of the key wild bird species that have bred here on site. The 2015 results are now in and highlights include seven nesting avocet pairs, in wha
24 February 2016
Dragonfly nymph on the move
Dragonfly nymph It may not do any migratory miles, but this dragonfly nymph has been on its own #incrediblejourney today, after being rehomed during the clear up of Forgotten Meadow ponds. We're still busy tackling th
27 October 2014
VIDEO: roe deer courtship
This brief clip of two roe deer flirting at our saline lagoon was caught by a camera trap. The buck and doe briefly nuzzle right at the start and then he saunters off as she follows behind, having fallen under his spell. If you look carefully, he’s ado
12 June 2014
VIDEO: wading chicks growing up fast
Oystercatcher chick and adults Wader Lake June 2014 Oystercatcher, avocet and redshank - oh my! Wader Lake's chicks are growing up fast, with six avocets due to fledge any day now, grey heron juveniles learning to fis
11 June 2014
Hide disturbance (19 March)
There will be some disturbance at Hawthorn Wood hide on Wednesday 19 March, as our reserve warden and a team of volunteers tidy up and improve the bird feeding station outside. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause you and hope you enjoy
9 March 2014
Spring has sprung (images)
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4 March 2014
Avocet on Wader Lake
The first avocet of the season arrived on Wader Lake on Sunday 23 February, a whole week earlier than the previous site record of 2 March (in 2012). Avocets have bred at WWT Washington since 2006 and last year, four pairs successfully fledged 12 young bet
24 February 2014
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