Welney news
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
Full of the joys of spring
Cow and yellow wagtail/WWT Spring is a time of year to be celebrated as an incredible array of wildlife returns to the UK for summer or emerges from their winter hideaways. The race is then on to find a mate and pro
27 April 2017
9-11 May Gift shop closed for stock take
From Tuesday 9 - Thursday 11 May the gift shop within the visitor centre at WWT Welney will be closed for the annual stock take. This will not affect admissions or entry to the reserve, and all other areas of the visitor centre such as the cafe, pond ro
26 April 2017
Main observatory works
Aerial view of centre by Sky Vertical On Wednesday 26 April there will be works to the entrance of the main hide as we install the electric all-access door. Access to the reserve will still be possible as well as to
25 April 2017
Kingfisher
Kingfisher by Bob Ellis All winter we had a male kingfisher as a regular sighting, particularly on the ponds around our visitor centre. This spring he has found a mate and they can regularly be seen from several of
21 April 2017
Great white egrets
Great white egret by David Owen Great white egrets are head and shoulders....and body above the little egrets. Look out for them on the pools and ditches throughout the reserve. This afternoon (Thurs 20 April) we had
20 April 2017
Robin chicks hatching
Robin chick Awww look at it's....'HAIR'!!! This newly hatched chick is sporting an impressive head of 'hair', some might say it is a baby only a mother could love. This was the first robin chick to have hatched in t
13 April 2017
Bearded tits in the reeds
Bearded tit by David Bradley Bearded tits have been spotted recently in the reed beds in front of our hides... It's always worth sitting and waiting to see what comes along....or what might be already sneaking through
27 March 2017
Insects become more active
Green socks peacock beetle by Kim Tarsey The insect activity is starting to pick up on the reserve, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled when walking along the footpaths, and not just for birds!! These images are of
24 March 2017
Artist Gill McCoy features in the gallery this March & April
Throughout March and April the gallery is alive with colourful, creative artwork by Gill McCoy. Gill currently works at WWT Welney, and you may well see her as you are welcomed to the centre on a visit. Gill's collection depicts many different specie
12 March 2017
Signs of spring
Coltsfoot in flower The first signs of spring can be seen this week with willow catkins beginning to flower along the footpaths, sprays of coltsfoot around the ponds at the visitor centre and birds getting ready for b
11 March 2017
Golden plover migration spectacle
Numbers of golden plover have been increasing over the last couple of weeks to make an impressive flock of over 5,000 strong. They are using our wetlands as feeding grounds, for drinking water, a safe place to roost and to keep themselves in good condit
6 March 2017
Daisy Clarke makes it to Denmark before Storm Doris hits the UK
Our Bewick's swan, Daisy Clarke, is now in Denmark, having had a breif stop in the Netherlands and Germany as she moves further north east towards the breeding grounds in Arctic Russia. Good luck Daisy Clarke! Leho is yet to start her journey, so there ar
22 February 2017
Swans begin their spring migration
Hundreds of Bewick's swans were visible on our final two swan's awake mornings last week and seemed reluctant to fly out very early. This seems to be because they were resting up ready to migrate - as seen with one of our GPS tagged birds, Daisy Clarke, s
20 February 2017