Curlew – 25 on Bank farm feeding around the closest pool to the visitor centre
Barn owl – 1 hunting around the visitor centre
Dawn swan count
Whooper swans – 1766
Bewick’s swans – 243
This entry was posted in Welney sightings and tagged AUTUMNWATCH, Bewick's swans, migration, MIGRATION_WATCH, swan feeds, swans, Welney, wetlands, whooper swans, Wildlife. Bookmark the permalink.
Bewick’s are back
Our first Bewick’s swan flew in to WWT Welney yesterday, right on schedule and just a day after the first arrival at WWT Slimbridge. So that now we have all three species of UK swan on site for visitors to see. Water levels have peaked and currently only the Reedbed hide is closed with welly boots needed to access Nelson-Lyle, Lyle, Allport and Friends hides.
Sightings from yesterday:
Bewick’s swan – 1
Jack snipe – 1
Little gull – 1
White-fronted goose – 30
Marsh harrier – 3 (roosting in front of the main observatory)
Fieldfare (large flocks)
Curlew
Ruff
Goldren plover
Ring ouzel
Water rail
This entry was posted in Welney sightings and tagged AUTUMNWATCH, Bewick's swans, migration, swans, Welney, wetlands, wwt welney. Bookmark the permalink.
Birdwatchers get in a flap as rare squacco heron flies in to WWT Welney
Squacco heron by Chris Baines
Birders have been gathering at WWT Welney in Norfolk this week to see an extremely rare squacco heron which arrived on the weekend. The reason why it has turned up in the UK is unknown as these birds normally spend the summer in Southern Europe.
This record is the second for the site at Welney and one of only a handful for the county. Squacco herons breed mainly in Eastern Europe with a few sporadic sites in Spain and France.
Warden, Steve Wiltshire, commented: “It is always exciting to see a rarity on site but this particular individual is a very striking bird in its full breeding plumage. The breezy weather over the weekend meant that the plume of feathers on the back of the neck has been in full flow”.
“The bird has been making itself at home in the shallow flooded washes in full view of our reedbed hide and seems quite content fishing in the ditches amongst all the other birds”.
At the end of the weekend the bird was moving further South along the reserve so the team are hoping to partially open the summer walk during the week to allow access for visitors to continue looking for it.
WWT Welney is open 7 days a week, (except 25 December) from 9.30am to 5.00pm during the summer. The centre is the perfect place to explore the open landscape of the Fens as much of the area once looked. Flooding of the Ouse washes provides essential feeding and breeding grounds for birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals such as the water vole. The eco-friendly visitor centre has an excellent cafe, gift shop with elevated views of the Fen landscape complete with family friendly and disabled facilities including buggy access, wheelchairs and mobility scooters for hire.
To check on the latest status of the heron and all our other sightings on our wildlife sightings page here.
This entry was posted in Welney news and tagged birders, rarity, squacco heron, Welney, wetlands, Wildlife. Bookmark the permalink.
Mute swans tower above recent floods
Mute swan nest in flood
As flooding affects the nesting season on the Ouse washes at WWT Welney, one pair of swans are towering above the lapping water.
A determined pair of mute swans are refusing to lose their nest to the flood waters at Welney. Gathering what vegetation they can find, they are trying to weather the rising waters to continue incubating their eggs and hopefully hatch the cygnets inside.
As a result of the flooding on the Ouse washes this spring the breeding season at Welney has come to a standstill. But one of the many pairs of mute swans which breed on the reserve is not giving up without a battle. Since the waters came on they have increased the height of their nest from its origins on the banks of the ditch next to the footpaths.
Mute swans are native to the UK and remain close to their breeding territories all year round. Visitors can see the mute swans up close in the winter at the swan feeds, during which time the reserve is home to an additional 10,000 swans migrating from more northerly breeding grounds. But during the summer the whooper swans from Iceland and the Bewick’s swans from Arctic Russia are absent leaving the whole wetland site for the mute swans to use to hatch and raise their cygnets.
‘The water levels have now started to drop, relieving the pressure on this particular pair of mute swans’ says Marketing and Events Officer, Emma Brand. ‘We hope the levels will continue to drop over the next week or two so that we are ready for the June half term activities, which include pond-dipping, moths on display and biodiversity blitz sessions’.
The water levels are now decreasing with hopes that the reserve will start to open up again to visitors and provide feeding areas for the birds once more. Updated information on the access on the reserve and what activities are available can be found at www.wwt.org.uk/Welney .
Only two weeks of the WWT photography competition Spring heat to go!
New Build by Nigel Picknell
These eye-catching new photographs of Britain’s wonderful wildlife show some of the amazing array of wildlife and stunning landscapes that can be seen at WWT’s Welney centre through the seasons.
These are a selection of images from the ever popular Wetland Wildlife category as well as the winning entries from the previous winter heat of the WWT Photography Competition 2011-2012, held in celebration of the Scott Antarctic Expedition Centenary and in association with Canon.
Spring beauty by Tracey Millburn
WWT Welney is most famous for the thousands of wintering wildfowl which use the reserve during the coldest season of the year but as is shown in the spring entries now is just as exciting a time.
Despite the popularity of the Wetland Wildlife category we would like to see more entrants in the other three categories which are: Wetland Landscapes, People & Wildlife and Young Photographer.
“Wetlands are well known for their abundance of wildlife”, Julie Ward, Centre Manager of WWT Welney said. “but in the heart of the Fens we also have some amazing landscapes and ‘skyscapes’. The reserve at Welney allows a whole range of visitors to connect with nature and in such a safe environment, this can be done from a young age. So I would urge anyone with an interest in photography to visit and capture what our reserve means to them and enter before the spring heat closes”.
With only two weeks to go until the spring heat closes there are not many opportunities to capture the changeable nature of wetlands at WWT Welney. This will also be the last chance for those that are new to the competition to be in with a chance of winning a trip to Antarctica by entering at least two of the four seasonal heats.
Welney in winter by Ann Miles winter Wetland Landscapes winner
All the heat winners go through to the competition final which will be judged once the winter, spring and summer heats are complete. The whole competition closes on 31 August 2012. There are £50,000 worth of prizes up for grabs for the national winners, including wildlife photography and activity holidays.
Entrants who submit images to more than two of the seasonal heats automatically go into the Portfolio Photographer of the Year category, and therefore could be in with a chance of winning the ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica courtesy of Exodus in partnership with Quark Expeditions.
The summer heat is just around the corner, so now is the time to submit spring stills; photographers can enter their prized pictures taken at WWT Welney online at www.wwt.org.uk/photo until 31 May 2012. Then the summer heat opens 1 June – 31 August 2012 which is when the 2011-2012 competition closes. There will be a prize-giving and winners day at a WWT centre in the autumn.
This entry was posted in Welney news and tagged marsh harriers, people & wildlife, photography, photography competition, spring, Welney, wetland landscapes, wetlands, Wildlife, young photographer. Bookmark the permalink.
Today’s planning announcement still leaves wetlands at risk
Communities must keep up their guard to protect wetlands
Responding the National Planning Policy Framework published today, WWT Chief Executive Martin Spray has praised the government on some counts for listening to the concerns of the environment sector but warned communities that they need to be more vigilant than ever in protecting wetlands.
The final version of the NPPF adopted the definition of sustainable development as detailed in the 2005 UK Sustainable Development Strategy and gives specific mention to the need to recognise undesignated sites, both measures recommended by the environment sector and the Environmental Audit Committee.
Due to the nature of the NPPF, the real test will come as it is implemented by local authorities, so WWT is urging communities to be extra vigilant against inappropriate development proposals that may harm wetland wildlife.
Mr Spray said: “I have to congratulate the Minister for listening to some of our concerns. He has used the right definition of sustainable development and this sends out a clear signal to developers that economic benefit must be balanced with social and environmental benefit.
“Now is not the time to take our eyes off the ball though. The framework is just for guidance and can be implemented with flexibility. There is plenty of opportunity as we go through this transition period for unscrupulous development to look for loopholes.”
The NPPF is in principle good on protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and ‘priority habitat’, much of which will be without specific designation.
It mentions locally designated sites, but potentially values them low quite low. There is some encouraging text on ecological networks – the wildlife linkages between nature reserves and the wider environment – but nothing that is binding for Local Authorities.
Mr Spray added: “There are still missed opportunities. Wetlands bring real benefits for people, in flood prevention, water treatment and recreation, particularly in this time of drought and increased flood risk. The NPPF could have been a progressive document for the 21st century, but it doesn’t capture and promote these benefits through the planning system in a way that they can be recognised and championed by Local Authorities.”
£300,000 initiative to turn school grounds into wildlife oases
Sustainable drainage systems improve the environment and help students learn
Thousands of pounds funding has been announced to adapt school buildings and grounds to soak up rainfall and create wildlife-rich wetlands that mimic the natural water cycle and help to improve streams in an area of North London.
Ten schools will be selected to work with water and wildlife experts to create features such as interconnected ponds, reedbeds and living green walls and roofs.
Pupils will get involved with the design and, once built, the wildlife-rich wetlands will be outside spaces for learning about real-life science.
By storing more rainwater within these features, the schools will act like sponges, slowing the flow of water to the Pymmes Brook – the stream that runs through the area. Besides supporting a wide range of wildlife, the features will improve the health of the Pymmes Brook by filtering pollution, dirt and debris.
Project coordinator Sue Pritchard is experienced in the principles behind the project. She said:
“I’ve worked in Australia where water scarcity is the norm. Ideas that are commonplace over there, like rain gardening and sustainable drainage systems, are just starting to hit the mainstream here now.
“It really is the technology of the future – simple, natural solutions to environmental problems. Pupils in the Pymmes Brook area are among the first to get the chance to learn from it. It’s a really exciting opportunity and it’s totally free, so I recommend that anyone who is interested get in touch to see if their school is eligible.”
Funding is available to primary and secondary schools within the water catchment for Pymmes Brook. Schools are invited to submit expressions of interest.
The SuDS for Schools scheme is a partnership between the Environment Agency, Thames Water and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). The term Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) covers all ways of managing rainwater by mimicking natural processes. They slow down the flow of water once it hits our roofs and the ground and filter out pollution by catching it in the roots and stems of water-loving plants. The result is that rainwater reaches our streams more slowly, lowering the risk of flooding, and cleaner than if it had run straight down the drain.
New laws encourage the use of the SuDS approach in all new developments. The benefits are particularly useful in built up areas.
To find out more visit the project page.
Wildlife suffering as countryside dries out
Farming and wildlife likely to come into conflict as limited water directed to domestic supply
Nature experts warn that this summer could be the worst for wildlife in over 30 years if the current period of low rainfall continues.
Rainfall has been so low that in many areas the level of moisture in the soil is currently worse than in 1976, when the UK suffered one of the most severe droughts on record[i].
Flock of grazing wigeon by James Lees
All creatures need water to survive and reports from around the UK indicate wildlife is already being affected. As WWT’s Welney Wetland Centre in Norfolk is located in one of the worst affected areas by the drought, there has not been enough rainfall to flood the grassland habitats, which has meant less food for grazing ducks such as wigeon.
But even through these worrying times, there have been both positive and negative effects on wildlife. Usually one of the biggest problems to the Ouse Washes is too much water (at the wrong times) leading to the inundation of breeding wader habitat and the loss of chicks. Last year this didn’t happen and we had fairly good breeding success this summer. The winter levels on the washes are also not too bad because they are being maintained by tidal influence. However, the areas of wet grassland further away from the river channels are very dry and we simply do not have enough water to keep them wet, this is affecting the numbers of wintering wildfowl such as wigeon.
Although water supply to most homes may not be affected as water companies have measures in place to collect and store enough water for domestic supply, this comes at the expense of the countryside. Farming is already under pressure to produce crops with an uncertain water supply. If supplies dwindle as predicted this summer, the conflict is likely to be pitched as farming vs. wildlife when really both are victims of the way water is used
and managed.
WWT’s Head of Wetland Conservation, Rob Shore, has been hearing reports from WWT’s wetland reserves around the country. He said:
“We haven’t yet had the dreaded hosepipe ban warnings but wildlife is the proverbial canary in the cage. We want government to tackle this problem before it gets out of hand – not just relieving the problem this year but by putting plans in place to prevent this happening again.”
“We have the technical solutions and have identified regulation, from farming subsidies to water company regulation, which could be tweaked to keep more water on the land to help wildlife and farmers. Ultimately it will benefit all of us as consumers.”
One solution being proposed is to create lots of small wetland areas to capture rainwater when it does fall. By slowing the flow of water off the land these allow more water to percolate into soils and aquifers. The added benefit is that they prevent soil, nutrients and other pollutants from being washed into our rivers, which in turn reduces the costs of water treatment.
Rob Shore continued: “We’re struggling to keep our wetlands wet in winter which is virtually unheard of. The knock on effect will be on the birds breeding in spring, so it is easy to see how quickly this can escalate. What we are proposing are small but sensible changes, which bring very tangible benefits for all of us.”
Despite some recent rain, the majority of river systems in England or Wales are currently flowing at below average levels and many are critically low[ii]. The situation is even worse for our groundwater supplies, which have not been replenished over the autumn and winter.
Rain has generally fallen in short, heavy bursts and run straight off the dry, compacted land and very quickly ended up in the sea. This is already raising the threat of flooding at the same time as drought. Climate change is predicted to bring heavier and less frequent rain making this a more common occurrence.
[i]
Environment Agency weekly water situation report Wednesday 18 – Tuesday 24
January 2012 http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Research/WE_240112.pdf
[ii]
Environment Agency weekly water situation report Wednesday 18 – Tuesday 24
January 2012 http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Research/WE_240112.pdf
