Welney news
Swan arrivals
Whooper swan family Jane Rowe Whooper swans have been arriving in good numbers over recent weeks, and a dawn count this week has revealed that we now have 2,400 at WWT Welney. We also have 24 Bewick's swans so far,
14 November 2017
A dance of cranes
Crane flock by Tony Orwell This week we have been treated to a group of around 30 cranes using the reserve and surrounding farmland. This post-breeding flock of birds includes four families alongside adult birds.
26 September 2017
Westerly wind bring seabirds inland
Manx shearwater rescue This morning a local resident brought a grounded Manx shearwater into the centre. With the high winds we've seen across the UK this week, several hundred shearwaters have been blown off course
14 September 2017
Goat moth caterpillars
Goat moth caterpillar This month there have been lots of reports of goat moth caterpillar sightings around the reserve. Goat moths are a scarce species in the UK and have been in decline since at least the 1960's. H
24 August 2017
Centre Access
Access to the centre is now fine. All roads are back open however the roads may still have signs saying they are closed, you can go past these signs.
19 August 2017
Access to the centre
The Ten Mile Bank road to the centre is currently closed due to a burst water pipe. Access to the centre is via the Littleport Road, please go past the road closed sign on Suspension Bridge.
19 August 2017
Largest family to date for Icelandic swan pair
Whooper swan pair with cygnets by Kim Tarsey . A pair of injured whooper swans have hatched a brood of five cygnets this summer at WWT Welney Wetland Centre. The pair who first bred on the reserve in 2011 are u
6 June 2017
Sad news for black-winged stilts
Sadly, since the original news of the black-winged stilt pair hatching their chicks, we have seen the adults birds without the chicks and they have now moved from Lady Fen, to feed on the reserve. Despite the fact that the chicks haven't survived, this
1 June 2017
Black-winged stilts hatch chicks for first time at WWT Welney
Black-winged stilt pair with chick For the first time ever a pair of unusual wading birds, black-winged stilts, have chosen to breed on the reserve at WWT Welney Wetland Centre. This species of bird has been a vagrant
31 May 2017
Where do the waders go?
Greenshank by Ann Karin Gaasland Each season brings us different birds to see on the reserve, some travelling North from Southern Europe and Africa to spend the summer with us and some travelling South from Northern E
29 May 2017
First chicks mark fresh future for rare fenland wading bird
In a UK first, 26 fluffy black-tailed godwit chicks have been hatched by conservationists in the Fens this week. The rare chicks will be hand-reared until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild. Black-tai
12 May 2017
Today's Highlights
Black-tailed godwit Pochard Teal Avocet Gadwall Shoveler Dunlin -2 Little ringed plover - 8 Lapwing Redshank Mallard Pied Wagtail Common sandpiper Swallow Tree sparrow -4 Ruff - 2 Swift
8 May 2017
Today's Highlights
2 Black-winged stilt - Lady Fen, directly in front of the visitor centre Garganey - Friends Hide 3 Great white egret - 2 at Friends Hide, 1 at Reedbed Hide 2 Ringed plover - Lady Fen 3 Wheatear Corn bunting Cuckoo Dunlin Redshank Lapwing Swallow House mar
30 April 2017
Spring migrants - spoonbill
Spoonbill by Ray Mathias Spring migrants are passing through and dropping in at quite a pace now. This spoonbill was on site for two days this week resting and feeding up on our wetlands. Its distinctive flattened
28 April 2017
Spring migrants - wheatear
Wheatear by Bob Ellis A #Spring Special at WWT Welney, the wheatear; freshly arrived after spending their winter in Africa. These beautiful birds are often seen on the ground looking for insects to feed on, keep you e
27 April 2017