Kingfisher Guide

Whatever the season, come rain or shine, WWT Washington is the perfect place to connect with nature.

Otter image: Alan Hewitt

Open 364 days a year, our award-winning, family-friendly site offers visitors of all ages the chance to escape the everyday and experience unique wildlife encounters and amazing up-close views across the seasons.

Free guide book

Be sure not to miss a thing with your FREE GUIDE BOOK (worth £3.50) which showcases our visitor centre with café and gift shop, our collection animals and our wild reserve - with checklists to help you ID different species. It’s the perfect accompaniment to your visit!

To get your free guide book, simply complete the form and show your voucher to our admissions team when you arrive!*

Get guidebook voucher

*One free guide book per paying adult/concession admission.

See incredible wildlife

male kingfisher

Don’t miss nesting grey herons and lapwings in spring, when the woodland floors fill with bluebells. In summer, babies abound, with fledglings including avocet and common tern taking to the water and sky at Wader Lake, as wildflower meadows bloom and dragonflies bask. Kingfisher sightings increase and bird numbers soar come autumn and the wild reserve becomes a two-way rest and refuelling point on the incredible migratory journeys of dozens of water bird species. And in winter, curlew spiral down at dusk to roost, as frost adds delicate sparkle to the woodlands, where long-tailed tits, bullfinches and redpoll feed.

Seasonal wildlife

Our birds and otters

family with emperor goose

Our collection of exotic ducks, geese, swans and family of Asian short-clawed otters are here to enjoy all year round too!

Head to Close Encounters and Ganderland for close-up experiences of falcated ducks, black swans and the rarest goose in the world – the nene. Don’t miss daily talks too – our otters are fed twice a day where you can see them forage for food while learning interesting facts from our keepers.

Experience our wetlands

Activities and events

Spending time with like-minded people is a great way to connect with nature. We have a host of exciting seasonal activities and events for everyone to enjoy. Be sure to check our what’s on calendar to see if there’s anything that tickles your fancy!

What's on

What next?

Plan your visit and sign up to our enewsletter to stay connected with WWT and the latest goings on at Washington Wetland Centre.

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