News
Spring rarities at WWT centres
As spring has progressed we’ve been seeing an increasing number of rare bird visitors to our reserves. The months of April and May are great for spotting returning migrants from Africa and other hot climes. Birds are also busy singing to attract mates
3 May 2011
BBC’s Wild Week Live coming from WWT Castle Espie in May
WWT Castle Espie is set to become the centre piece of a BBC Northern Ireland week-long broadcast event called Wild Week Live. The TV and radio extravaganza taking place at the end of May, which will celebrate the rich wildlife resident around Northern Ir
3 May 2011
Incubations continues
Our ospreys are happily incubating their two eggs on the nest today and no doubt enjoying the beautiful spring weather. The eggs were laid on the 19th and 22nd of April and it now looks unlikely they will be joined by a third egg this year, as it has been
2 May 2011
Nesting news
Spring has well and truly sprung at WWT Slimbridge. Species are so impressed by the weather that some very early clutches are being lovingly created in the undergrowth here there and everywhere. The African Yellowbills started the early egg trend on the 3
29 April 2011
Sand martins make a home in the Sir Peter Scott Sand Martin hide
The Sir Peter Scott Centenary Sand Martin Hide has its first pairs of sand martins in residence at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. Two pairs of sand martins moved into the unique artificial nesting bank over the busy Easter weekend. The windows of the hide wi
29 April 2011
Thirteen calves born at WWT Martin Mere
13 long-horn calves have been born at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, helping the Centre to traditionally manage the reserve. Martin Mere has a herd of traditional Long Horn cattle as they are ideal for grazing on wetlands and have been nicknamed ‘wetla
29 April 2011
WWT names Bewick's swan pair William and Kate after royal couple
Known for their lifelong monogamy, a pair of swans is the latest honour bestowed on the royal couple. Staff at WWT have been gripped with wedding fever and knowing that the couple have asked for no gifts and have a passion for conservation, we have named
28 April 2011
Surprise surprise, yes I have white-winged duck news!
Yay! With the earliest ever white-wing clutch in memory, my duckery female (ZSL/Exmoor origin) has started to incubate. The view a week ago showed a lovely collection forming in the soft compost in her nestbox, a full 3 weeks before her efforts in 2010.
28 April 2011
A Wizzy update
We had a fantastic bank holiday weekend at the Centre with almost 5000 visitors over the 4 days and I received nothing but positive comments as I walked around and talked to people. It has been mentioned to me that a number of people were also asking how
27 April 2011
Friends of Welney celebrate 20 years
We are going to be saying happy birthday to the Friends of Welney this summer as they celebrate their 20th anniversary. Members of Friends of Welney will be invited to a special evening held at the reserve to say thank you for their hard work. Set up in
27 April 2011
Still no third egg
At the end of the CCTV recording yesterday I could still see only two eggs on the nest. This morning the female has been sitting tight on the nest most of the morning and has built up the grass and twigs at the front of the nest so that it is difficult to
26 April 2011
Real-life Easter eggs hatch at WWT Washington
An eggs-tra special Easter surprise hatched at WWT Washington this bank holiday weekend in the form of two beautiful black swan cygnets. The fluffy pair was first spotted in the nest by wardens on Easter Sunday and yesterday they could be seen enjoying th
26 April 2011
Can't see the third egg yet
Like yesterday AW has been doing a lot of nest duty today sitting on the eggs. He spent nearly 2 hours this morning before his mate came in and took over. Due to the build up of nest material on the edge of the nest it is very difficult to see if a 3rd eg
25 April 2011
Night-vision adds a new dimension to bat walks
Bat Walks begin on May 12 Navigating the night isn’t a problem for bats. Now visitors to Arundel Wetland Centre will be able to watch these winged wonders under cloak of darkness, with the aid of night-vision equipment. Starting this May, corporate part
22 April 2011
Osprey Easter egg number two laid this morning
When the CCTV images came on this morning we could see AW stand up on the nest and between his legs there were 2 eggs. If we didn't know better it looked as if he had just laid them! A second lighter and more speckled egg was beside the very russet first
22 April 2011