Blog
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Magnificent seven
Great news from Wader Lake, where there are currently seven avocets present. Our site record is eight in total (four pairs nested last year) so all eyes are peeled for the return of the final bird!
20 March 2013
Latest Sightings
Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 77 Mute Swan 30 Wigeon 90 Tufted Duck 40 Canada Goose 2 Greylag 1 Shoveler 10 Oystercatcher 2 Folly Pond Teal 30 Wigeon 45 Shoveler 10 Redshank 36 Black-tailed Godwit 4 Oystercatcher 4 Black-headed Gull 20 Lesser black-backed Gul
20 March 2013
Keeping clean, with your friends!
One of the most noticeable aspects of bird social biology, that lots of animal behaviour scientists will tell you, is that birds who like each other tend to bath together (if they are a group-living species). And this is especially true of flamingos.
19 March 2013
Star student scoops major science award for flamingo flock project
A North East research student has been named the UK’s Young Scientist of the Year 2013 for her work involving some of WWT Washington Wetland Centre’s most endangered waterbirds. Emily O’Regan clinched the prestigious title at the National Science +
19 March 2013
More Waders
More Avocet today with a count 86 mostly from the Ron Barker Hide. A flock of 10 Golden Plover dropped in briefly. further wader counts included 88 Ruff, 80 Oystercatcher, 300+ Lapwing, 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Two
19 March 2013
WWT-IUCN partnership will help plants and wetlands
A new partnership has been agreed between the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) and the IUCN SSC Freshwater Plant Specialist Group (FPSG) that will improve wetland conservation and help save threatened plants. Water hyac
19 March 2013
Latest Sightings
Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 110 Mute Swan 30 Wigeon 90 Tufted Duck 40 Canada Goose 2 Greylag 1 Shoveler 11 Oystercatcher 2 Folly Pond Teal 30 Wigeon 45 Shoveler 16 Redshank 6 Black-tailed Godwit 4 Oystercatcher 4 Black-headed Gull 20 Shelduck 2 Flood Ground
19 March 2013
Wildlife sightings for 19th March 2013
2 Pintail - reservoir lagoon 1 Shelduck - wader scrape 1 Redshank - wader scrape 50 Fieldfare - flew NW with a few dropping into wildside Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Shelduck, Jack Snipe, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Mediterranean Gull,
19 March 2013
Todays Sightings
Wader Lake/High Tide/AM Avocet - 4 Redshank - 77 Lapwing - 4 Commson Snipe - 3 Grey Heron - 30 (19 nests) Teal - 15 Mallard - 60 Shelduck - 10 Oystercatcher - 4 Saline Lagoon Mute Swan - 2 Shelduck - 16 Redshank - 2 Oystercatcher - 2 Other Birds Cormorant
19 March 2013
Today's sightings
The Holden Tower Tundra Bean Goose 1 White-fronted Goose 24 Wigeon 80 Peregrine 1 adult Buzzard 6 The Rushy Bewick's Swan 7 Pintail 60 The Long Ground Pool Great-crested Grebe 2 The Willow Hide Water Rail 1
19 March 2013
5,000 schoolchildren connect with nature
More than 5,000 school children have been given a firsthand experience of nature in just the first six months of a free school trips scheme run by WWT. The scheme is offered to children at schools in disadvantaged areas, who are least likely to have had t
19 March 2013
Migration starts again!
At last some south-westerly winds and clear skies! On Thursday there were 124 Bewick’s swans at Slimbridge but by Friday there were only 35! The swans had been stalling – days of unfavourable north-easterly winds had dissuaded most from starting their
19 March 2013
Have a Cracking Easter at Castle Espie
Easter isn’t all about chocolate eggs wrapped in colourful foil, it’s also the time when Castle Espie Wetland Centre, on the shores of Strangford Lough comes alive. Celebrate the thrill of new life as eggs begin to hatch and cute ducklings and gosling
18 March 2013
Chiffchaff arrives
First Chiffchaff of the spring near the Janet Kear Hide. Seen but not heard, probably saving it's vocal chords for slightly warmer conditions, although as it happens it was quite pleasant in the sun today. In the same area a male Blackcap was present, Nut
18 March 2013
South African black duck nesting observations.
The South African black ducks have been nesting for nearly three weeks now. Although considered of Least concern in the wild, these birds are rare in captivity and although they do not command a high price they prove quite hard to get hold of once lost.
18 March 2013