Bewick’s swans form famously loyal partnerships during their lifetimes and will mate for life where they can. Divorce is exceptionally rare in this species. In over 4,000 pairs studied at Slimbridge during 40 years of study, only one pair have separated after being together for some years.

However, two particular individuals this winter are bucking the trend as we have watched a second divorce unfold in front of our eyes! The individuals in question are called Sarindi and Saruni. Sarindi (ringed BBZ) flew into Slimbridge this autumn without mate of two years Saruni (ringed 525). Sarindi was with a new partner named Sarind and we could only assume that something untoward had happened to Saruni. We were therefore very surprised to see Saruni arrive several weeks later with new mate Sarune!

After observing them for a while, we are confident that both have formed new partnerships. Needless to say, Saruni and Sarindi have not been seen associating with each other this winter! Poor breeding success could be a possible reason behind such a separation although we will never know for sure!

WWT London Wetland Centre is having a bumper winter for bitterns this year.

Normally home to just one of these elusive birds from the heron family, this winter is seeing a bittern bonanza with the centre offering shelter for up to five at a time.

Not only is this large number unusual for us, but one of the birds has been heard booming, the first ever recorded there.

This is an exceptional event because they don’t even start breeding until late March/early April which is when you would normally expect to hear the males making this remarkable, far-carrying cry.

Bitterns are extremely elusive, with their buff, streaky markings making them very hard to spot as they search for fish amongst reed beds.

There are thought to be only between 50 – 150 individual birds wintering in the UK each year, but with up to five making their home at the London Wetland Centre this winter, now is your best chance of spotting one.

It’s the otter equivalent of stomping upstairs to your room and slamming the door behind you.

Here at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire Mo the otter flexes her teenage muscles by…… climbing a tree!

Mammal Manager at Slimbridge, John Crooks, said: “This is certainly very unusual behaviour for an otter, but I think maybe she is going through some kind of teenage rebellion. Otters are strong mammals and she is climbing progressively higher each time so she seems to be very determined and headstrong.

“Perhaps she just wants to be left alone or to have a bit of space from her younger sisters and up a tree is the best place for her to do it! She is certainly getting a bit of a following now that word has got around with visitors.”

WWT’s nine wetland centres across the UK are seeing bumper visitor numbers this week, but not just the human kind! The freezing conditions have prompted thousands more ducks, geese and swans than usual to enjoy the hospitality of WWT reserves during the day, as the country remains in the grip of the cold snap.

The extreme weather makes it difficult for birds to find food, prompting a scheme under Section 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to kick in to minimise unnecessary disturbance to their feeding and roosting patterns. Today the Scottish government has suspended the shooting of wildfowl in Scotland for the first time in 13 years after a seven day period of ‘voluntary restraint’ on their activities. Birdwatchers, dog walkers, horse-riders – in fact all those who use the countryside – in Scotland have also been urged to avoid unnecessary disturbance to wild birds.

Weather forecasts suggest that later this week, England, Wales and Northern Ireland will also enter the period of ‘voluntary restraint’. With their networks of paths and well place bird hides, WWT centres provide an ideal opportunity for walkers and birdwatchers to enjoy the countryside whilst minimizing disturbance to wild birds. Wintering wildfowl traditionally fly onto WWT reserves for the morning and afternoon feeds with many moving around nearby fields foraging for food in between. But with persistent ice and snow on the ground, food is scarce and in order to conserve their vital energy reserves the birds are remaining on the reserves, offering unrivalled birdwatching opportunities for visitors to WWT centres.

Andy Wooldridge, Centre Manager at WWT Martin Mere in Lancashire, said: “We’ve had quite a bit of snow here so many more birds are staying on the reserve all day as they can’t afford to use up energy to search for food elsewhere. We’ve double the numbers of whooper swans than usual at the moment, plus an extra 1500 wigeon all looking for food, so we’ve actually started feeding the birds three times a day now instead of twice.”

An extra feed has also been put in place at WWT Slimbridge this week. James Lees, Reserve Warden here, said “The fields around here are frozen solid so more of our winter visitors are staying on the Rushy Pen all day to take advantage of the guaranteed food we provide. Today we’ve got 270 Bewick’s on the reserve – more than we’ve had here at one time for around five years, so it’s a real treat for visitors to see so many of them up close from the observatory.”

At WWT London Wetland Centre a record number of seven bitterns have been seen at the centre in the last few days. Adam Salmon, Reserve Manager, said: “The freezing conditions are almost certainly responsible, but we’re not sure if the bitterns are taking refuge here from the continent or the surrounding countryside as the capital is just a few degrees warmer than the rest of the UK at the moment!”

WWT centres are open all year round (except Christmas Day), for membership, admission prices and times, visit www.wwt.org.uk.