News
Pochard's last refuge gets international protection
The world’s rarest duck is one waddle closer to safety after its wetland home was designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, by the government of Madagascar. Bemanevika is series of secluded lakes in the remotest corner of the highlands of
6 March 2017
Swan woman has tea with the Russian Ambassador
WWT’s ‘swan woman’ Sacha Dench had tea with Russian Ambassador, Alexander Yakovenko, yesterday, during which they discussed the protection of endangered wetland birds and possible future collaboration with Russian organisations. The invitation to Sa
3 March 2017
The rising cost of environmental law
WWT’s Head of Public Relations & Campaigns, Peter Morris, reflects on new court rules in cases where the environment might be threatened: If you want to fight a new development on your doorstep through the courts, on environmental grounds, your pot
1 March 2017
Avian Influenza - updated restrictions
WWT is urging everyone who owns birds to keep supporting national efforts to reduce the spread of avian influenza. The H5N8 strain of the virus has never transferred to humans. But it has caused many deaths in wild and farmed birds across the UK in recent
28 February 2017
I.D. guides issued as swans migrate across Europe
Simple guides to help people identify different swans are being issued across northern Europe ahead of the migration of the rare Bewick’s swan. The guides have been designed by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) after finding that few people know t
28 February 2017
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
Prince of Wales and Sir David Attenborough celebrate support of lottery players
WWT’s new Patron, Prince Charles joined WWT Vice-President Sir David Attenborough and Chief Executive Martin Spray at the 2017 People’s Postcode Lottery annual Charity Gala earlier this week, where it was announced that £66.3 million was awarded to c
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