Washington news
Planned habitat maintenance - Monday 5 September
On (Monday 5 September) we’ll be doing some work to the fingers on Wader Lake. The fingers are a series of short channels that create mini wetlands within a wetland, providing essential feeding grounds for wading birds who have made the lake their home.
2 September 2016
Essential habitat work on Wader Lake Wed 31 August
After an amazing breeding season on Wader Lake it's time to get it in tip top condition for the wading birds which make it their home over autumn and winter. On Wednesday 31 August, our reserve management team will be doing some work to cut back th
29 August 2016
If you build it, they will come!
A specially designed hide introduced to bring wildlife and people closer together at WWT Washington Wetland Centre is proving a huge success since its opening earlier this year. The 16-sided, accessible hide was officially opened in May and promised to he
11 August 2016
Improving habitat for wetland birds
Before the coir matting was implemented Habitat improvements at WWT Washington Wetland Centre, which will help protect wildlife nesting areas and tackle wetland erosion, have been given a funding boost by support of p
25 July 2016
Cute names for cheeky otter babies
The four cheeky cubs (from left) Ash, Tod, Pip and Sam © Ian Greneholt Although it seems like just yesterday these cheeky Asian short-clawed otter quadruplets were born, they’re now 4 months old and are positively
18 July 2016
Real life explorer swoops into Washington Wetland Centre
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s (WWT) Sacha Dench, leader of the first ever lone female paramotor expedition to follow Europe’s smallest swan on migration, swooped into Wearside nature reserve, WWT Washington Wetland Centre today in advance of her g
13 July 2016
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
Award winning show garden coming to Washington
The garden incorporates recycled materials and water plants A garden that shows people how they can help solve local flooding through gardening has won a Gold Award and Best Garden Award at the RHS Hampton Court Flowe
6 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
Otterly exciting weekend
An otterly exciting day was had at WWT Washington Wetland Centre yesterday with first birthday celebrations for Asian short-clawed otter Ruby. Ruby, named in celebration of the centre’s 40th anniversary last year, was born on 22 May 2015; the first cub
23 May 2016
New hide brings wildlife and people closer
A specially designed hide introduced to bring wildlife and people closer together has now opened. The new 16-sided, accessible hide was officially opened last week by Zelda Baveystock and WWT’s CEO Martin Spray, along with other funders and local counci
10 May 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
Incredible journey to save the Bewick's swan
Celebrities lead support for first ever lone female expedition to save swans Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir David Attenborough head a list of hundreds of businesses, charities and individual supporters throughout Europe and Russia who are ge
26 April 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
Otterly adorable update
The latest image of one of the quadruplets taken at 27 days old. We've been keeping a close eye on our otter cubs here at WWT Washington Wetland Centre since they were born at the beginning of the month, and we're ple
30 March 2016