News
Wildlife update, Sunday Feb 19th
A better day weather-wise so far, but probably little change bird-wise, though I did see large nos. of Pinkfeet high up heading north on my way into work early this morning. Lots of small Barnacle Goose flocks around the hides, one of which held the hybri
19 February 2017
World Wetlands Day
February 2nd is annual World Wetlands Day. It’s a day to celebrate everything that happens when you mix water and wildlife. Wetlands are amazing places Wet nature is lush nature. Parts of the UK receive more rain annually than the Amazon rainforest. But
2 February 2017
WWT Caerlaverock – Dragonfly Hotspot
In the summer of 2016, WWT Caerlaverock was designated a Dragonfly Hotspot by the British Dragonfly Society. WWT Caerlaverock is well known for its thousands of wintering wildfowl, including barnacle geese, whooper swans, ducks and waders. In summer howev
30 January 2017
Recent Sightings
Sparrowhawk - Les Mccallum Millennium Wetlands 70 x Cormorant 2 x Little Grebe 1 x Grey Heron 2 x Mute Swan 41 x Gadwall 5 x Shelduck 23 x Mallard 3 x Teal 25 x Pintail 38 x Shoveler 5 x Pochard 14 x Tufted duck 1 x
27 January 2017
Climate Change Risk Assessment: published today
The Government’s Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017, published today, is a very welcome recognition by Government of the need to act on climate change adaptation in the UK. However, it includes a worrying line: “following the decision to leave the E
18 January 2017
Residents clean up polluted stream
A local litter eyesore blighted by drug use and rough sleeping has a new lease of life after 25 local residents turned out over the weekend to clean it up. More than 40 bags of rubbish were cleared from the area opposite the Hindu Temple on Keel Drive. Al
17 January 2017
Gulls, mink and nutrients implicated in pochard decline
Reasons for the recent decline of common pochard are investigated for the very first time in the latest issue of Wildfowl, the international scientific journal of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). The number of common pochard migrating to the UK fo
16 January 2017
A hungry harvest mouse and one hundred teal
Normally nocturnal harvest mouse feed on Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Romney Turner. Look out for Paul Stevens' weekly wildlife sightings column appearing in the Chichester Observer and other local weekly newspaper of
16 January 2017
Avian influenza - help birds by keeping clean
This winter, birds across Europe are catching bird flu. This strain has never transmitted to humans. But it is a very serious concern for all local birds including you or your neighbours’ poultry or pet birds at home or on the farm. After visiting anywh
6 January 2017
Commons Committee call for Environmental Protection Act
Leaving the EU is a time-consuming exercise. The Parliamentary process could leave little room for other matters. Yet today, the Commons Environmental Audit Committee topped its new Brexit report with a powerful demand for new environmental law. At WWT,
4 January 2017
Wildlife sightings - 26/12/2016
a.m. Tide Level: low Wader Lake Curlew 2 Lapwing 1 Eurasian shelduck 10 Eurasian teal 21 Great black-backed gull 1 Saline Lagoon Eurasian shelduck 2 Eurasian teal 3 Curlew 36 Hawthorn Wood Great spotted woodpecker 2 Nuthatch 1 Robin 1 Other birds Goldcre
26 December 2016
Sacha hands over swan petition at 10 Downing Street
A petition asking the UK Government to help improve the environment for swans and people has been handed over to 10 Downing Street.
21 December 2016
WWT welcomes Royal patronage announcement
His Royal Highness Prince Charles is to become the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s new Patron, taking over from Her Majesty The Queen. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s Chief Executive, Martin Spray CBE, said: “On behalf of everyone at WWT, I woul
20 December 2016
'Swan lady' Sacha's date with Downing Street
Today, just four days after completing her ground-breaking Flight of the Swans expedition, WWT conservationist Sacha Dench will be knocking on the door of 10 Downing Street in London to hand in a petition signed by 13,566 people which calls for the creati
20 December 2016
Celebration day to welcome back the human swan
WWT’s own human swan, conservationist Sacha Dench, has been welcomed back to Slimbridge as she nears the end of her epic 7,000km Flight of the Swans journey.
14 December 2016