Washington news
Dragonflies and damselflies
There are dragonflies and damselflies aplenty on site at the moment - a sure sign that summer is here (although the weather some days tells a different story!). These pictures were taken at the Pondzone area, where a school on a day trip were lucky enough
19 June 2014
Orchids in bloom
Bee orchid in the grounds An orchid survey is underway across WWT Washington’s reserve and some of the meadow results are back in. This year, Forgotten Meadow has 758 Northern marsh orchid and 14 common spotted orch
15 June 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
Otter health check
Musa and Mimi. Photo by Annie Lee. Musa and Mimi, our Asian short-clawed otters, are due to have their annual health check on Friday 13 June (but fear not, they ain't superstitious!). During their medical MOT, they'll
3 June 2014
Say hello to new life this spring
After one of the mildest winters on record; days are getting longer, buds are bursting into bloom and across our wetlands, woodlands and nature reserve, new life is starting to stir. A Hawaiian goose guards it mate on a ne
13 March 2014
Cygnets hatch in spring sunshine
Two black swan cygnets have hatched overnight in Close Encounters. The fluffy siblings are already out on the water and have been spotted learning to clean and preen themselves by mimicking their parents.
10 March 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
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