Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
 

National WWT News

February podcast with Simon King

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Jamie Wyver @ London
Simon King

Simon King

In the February edition of our monthly podcast, the naturalist and broadcaster Simon King explains how people can benefit from a visit to London Wetland Centre, and what to look out for in terms of wildlife at this time of year. The Centre’s chief ecologist Richard Bullock, and Victor Heng from our learning team look at the effect the recent spell of mild winter weather has had on wildlife.
February-at-WWT-London-Wetland-Centre by WWT London

You can also listen and subscribe to the London Wetland Centre podcast on iTunes

In his World Wetlands Day 2012 message, Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention of Biodiversity of the UN Environmental Programme, commends WWT London Wetland Centre as an example of how sustainable tourism can work for wetlands. Read the World Wetlands message

Find out more
You can see our latest wildlife sightings here
Find out more about London Wild Bird Watch

Previous podcasts
January 2012 – Wetland science
December 2011 – Bill Oddie on wetlands and what to look out for in December
November 2011 – Peregrine update, wildlife photography and November wildlife
October 2011 – Mark Carwardine and autumn wildlife

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Dawn Swan Count

Posted on 31 January 2012 by WWT
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Today’s sightings

Posted on 31 January 2012 by WWT

Holden Tower

E White-fronted Geese 290, Barnacle Goose 130, Egyptian Goose 1, Canada Goose 40, Greylag 25, Barnacle x Canada 1, Canada x Greylag 6, Peregrine 1

Zeiss Hide

Teal 450, Pintail 40, Wigeon 300
Two Bitterns seen yesterday

Tack Piece

Dunlin 90
Wigeon 1200

South Lake

Lesser Scaup female (also visited Big Pen today), Black-tailed Godwit 30, Pochard 130, Tufted Duck 150 y

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92 Species

Posted on 31 January 2012 by WWT

What a brilliant start to 2012 it has been. The mild and relatively benign January has meant plenty of observers in the field and bird numbers high on the reserve. A count of 4350 Lapwing at the beginning of the month was the highest for many years and exceptional for January. Generally peak counts of wildfowl have been lower this winter as milder condition in Europe mean less movement of birds into the UK. Notably the lowest number of Bewick's Swan since records began.

A new addition to the reserve list in the form of Cetti's Warbler was a highlight for this observer and the count of species to the end of January has hit 92. We've only been collating a specific year list since 2010, so comparing the actual counts isn't particularly significant, but in the previous two January's we recorded 86 and 83 species of bird respectively.

There were two new additions to the year list today; Collared Dove (surprisingly absent until now) and Stonechat. The later could be relied upon during many recent mild winters but were moved on during the harsh winter of 2010/11 and was only seen briefly on passage during the autumn of last year.

Biggest count of the year of Marsh Harrier with 7 different birds. A good raptor day all round with Hen Harrier (ringtail), 7 Common Buzzard, Merlin (briefly as usual), 2 Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

Some new waders in with 45 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Dunlin, 15 Common Snipe and 79 Ruff. A small 'stint like' wader was seen briefly with Ruff.

Other sightings included 137 Pochard, 61 Tufted Duck, Water Rail, 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker and 2 Treecreeper, the latter three species from the Janet Kear Hide.

AB

https://www.facebook.com/wwtmartinmere

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Wildlife sightings for 31st January 2012

Posted on 31 January 2012 by WWT

1 Shelduck – main lake

2 Pintail – main lake

91 Shoveler – main lake, grazing marsh

61 Wigeon – wader scrape

3 Dunlin – main lake

39 Redwing – entrance lake

7 Lesser Redpoll – wildside

3 Siskin – wildside

 

Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Jack Snipe, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Stonechat, Bullfinch, and Mealy Redpoll.

 

The grazing marsh is currently in flood and attracting large numbers of Teal, Gadwall, Snipe, Pintail and Wigeon. Jack Snipe can also be found on the marsh, along with Stonechat and occasional Pipit species.

 

Small flocks of Siskin, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll and Mealy Redpoll are feeding amongst the Alder and Birch trees.

 

The first Bitterns (2) arrived mid-October and can be found anywhere on the reed fringes of the main lake, sheltered lagoon, reservoir lagoon or main reedbed.

 

Look out for possible Scaup amongst the Tufted Duck flocks.

 

Cetti’s Warbler are becoming more vocal at present with at least 6 birds to be found across the reserve.

 

 

 

Fungi: Nitrous Bonnet (WW), Saffron Milkcap (WW), Candlesnuff Fungus (SL), Girdled Knight (SL), Silver-leaf Fungus (SL), Meadow Coral (EL), Clustered Bonnet (WD), Oak Mazegill (WD), Deceiver (WD), Ochre Aldercap (WD), Snowy Waxcap (EL), Leaf Parachute (SL).

 

 

Flowering plants: Marsh Marigold, Hazel catkins, Blackthorn, Hawthorn (in leaf). 

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Super Scalies!

Posted on 30 January 2012 by Liv Iles @ Arundel

Hello All, gosh what a busy few weeks!  The last time I wrote to you I was up at Slimbridge for my budget meeting.  Before Christmas I was cursing the fact that Arundel is always the first as they book them in alphabetically but after my meeting I was rather pleased as my fellow centre managers’ meetings took place throughout January, what a start to the new year!

Last week our Grounds Supervisor, Sam, and I took a trip up to Norfolk to visit Pensthorpe and WWT Welney.  Sam got in touch with Pensthorpe as they are the only registered breeder of Scaly-sided Mergansers in Europe.  Their aviculturalist is keen to swap some birds with us as records indicate that ours came from a different genetic pool to hers.  Our pair were not successful last year so Sam came away with tips on feeding, nest boxes, incubation and rearing.  Fingers crossed for this year

Pensthorpe has a great collection including two wader aviaries, one of which has fabulous Bearded Tits!  One of the other highlights was their captive red squirrels which are part of the East Anglia Red Squirrel Breeding Programme.  Surplus squirrels are released into the wild to support the declining population in Anglesey.  Well worth a visit.

After Pensthorpe we drove an hour or so over to WWT Welney.  A very different centre, there are no collection birds but thousands of wild ones.  The visitor centre was a slightly austere feature in the flat landscape on the rather bleak day we visited but once inside it was bright and airy.  We had a lovely lunch before walking across the walkway to look out across the Ouse Washes.  From a long heated hide we watched as the Whooper Swans flew in for the 3.30pm feed.     They were joined by hundreds of Pochard and Lapwing and I was pleased to correctly identify the Golden Plover flocking overhead.  After the feed we headed back, it’s about three hours drive to Arundel but I’d highly recommend the trip.

Chief Executive Martin Spray visited us last week to update staff and volunteers about the position of WWT in the current economic climate.  It was an honest and upfront presentation.  The Trust has reserves to withstand a financial downturn but when we have no idea how long it will last we have to manage our budgets very carefully.  The good news is that we continue to see investment into the centres so you will see further improvements throughout 2102.

Yesterday I received some terribly sad news, one of our ‘Guide in a Hide’ volunteers, Giles Cockburn passed away suddenly on Saturday.  Giles was a very long standing supporter of WWT and it was only Thursday when we were stood talking to Martin Spray and Giles was telling us about the times he met Peter Scott as a boy.  Giles was a hugely knowledgeable birder who also volunteered for other wildlife organisations and he will be greatly missed by the team.

On a happier note, we’ve discovered this morning that our first egg of the breeding season has been laid.  “Clyde” the nene and his mate were proudly showing off a gleaming white egg in the reedswamp exhibit.  You may get a peep of them in the dogwood but don’t get too close as he’s a very protective father!

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Play area update

Posted on 30 January 2012 by WWT Martin Mere

We are now in a position to start the play area development and I have attached below an outline of what the new one will look like (not the final version as still a few slight amendments to make).

The current play area opened in the late 80s and it has been fantastic for the centre but unfortunately the time has come to refurbish it which has meant that it is now closed until late May, early June.

We realise that the play area can be a big part of your visit and we have made every effort to put on additional activities and events to compensate for this, including:

  •  The play area by the canoe safari is open and available to use
  • Wetland croquet is available by the cafe along with den building
  • The electric boat tours will start in late March allowing you to take a 40 minutes guided tour of our wetlands
  • Our roundhouse village will be open every school holiday with a variety of different activities
  • We are bringing in a giant inflatable assault course over February Half Term
  • There will be circus skills activities on 10, 11, 17 & 18 March
  • Easter is being themed as Animal Magic to see a huge range of different animals on different days including birds of prey, reptiles, meerkats, skunks, ferrets and much more

For further information relating to the play area development and the activities happening at the centre in place of the play area, please call 01704 895181.

We hope that you will bear with us whilst this development takes place and that we can all look forward to a fantastic new addition to Martin Mere in June.

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WeBS Count

Posted on 30 January 2012 by WWT
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Today’s sightings

Posted on 30 January 2012 by WWT

The Tack Piece

GOSHAWK 1 first winter male flew over early morning, then was seen hunting Wood Pigeons over the Rushy

Redshank 40
Dunlin 1000
Golden Plover 400
Ruff 6
Lapwing 800
Wigeon 2000
Teal 400

The Zeiss Hide

BITTERN 1 Showed very well at times

Teal 700
Wigeon 300
Grey Heron 2

Roe Deer 2

The Rushy

Bewick's Swan 168

The Holden Tower

Peregerine 1
Buzzard 3
White-fronted Goose 282
Barnacle Goose 130

The South Lake

Black-tailed Godwit 40
Lapwing 700

 

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Bird News

Posted on 30 January 2012 by WWT

Another marvelous day, light winds, great light and excellent visibility throughout the day. At least four Marsh Harrier morning and afternoon, 2 Peregrine, 3 Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Barn Owl hunting from 3.30pm onwards.

At least 1300 Lapwing, 17 Black-tailed Godwit, 40+ Ruff and 2 Golden Plover.

Water Rail from the Janet Kear Hide.

The picture below is of a large Tawny Owl pellet, composed of mostly rodent fur and found on the path in the collection area. Two pairs of Tawny Owl nest on the reserve and it is most likely that females are sitting on eggs at this present time.

 

AB

http://www.facebook.com/wwtmartinmere

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