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Centre closure

On Thursday 18 September, we will be closed to visitors for operational reasons. We will reopen as usual on Friday 19 September. Thank you for your understanding.

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Sightings - Washington

Todays Sightings

Todays Sightings

Wader Lake AM (70% Frozen) Mid Tide Lapwing 14 Redshank 10 Teal 71 Wigeon 9 Shoveler 5 Gadwall 2 Grey Heron 5   Hawthorn Wood Willow Tit 2 Co [...]

15 December 2011

Sparrowhawk Surprise!

Sparrowhawk Surprise!

Our resident Sparrowhawk has just caught a tasty pigeon out on the Stream Channel. Visitors and staff were given a wonderful view. [...]

15 December 2011

Watch out, there's a water rail about!

Watch out, there's a water rail about!

A water rail has just surprised one of our wardens by dashing across his path at the ponds behing the duckery building. [...]

14 December 2011

Today's Sightings

Today's Sightings

Hawthorn Wood - AM - Weather Conditions: Dry/Cold Bird Species Blackbird - 2 Blue Tit - 16 Bullfinch - 20 Carrion Crow - 2 Chiffchaff - 15 Dunnok - 2 Great Spotted Wood [...]

14 December 2011

Todays Sightings

Todays Sightings

Wader Lake/AM/Tide Mid Shelduck - 2 Mallard - 60 Teal - 52 Wigeon - 4 Black Headed Gull - 74 River Wear Cormorant - 7 Curlew - 8 Redshank - 11 Hawthorn Wood [...]

13 December 2011

Todays sightings

Todays sightings

Wader Lake  AM Mid Tide: Mallard - 32 Teal -  54 Wigeon - 10 Shelduck - 4 Shoveler -  2 Black Headed Gull - 15 Gadwall - 1 Redsh [...]

12 December 2011

Todays sightings

Todays sightings

Wader Lake AM Mid Tide Wigeon  2 Shelduck  2 Mallard  10 Teal  28 Lapwing  36 Shoveler  1 Moorhen  14 Coot  1 Curlew  2 [...]

11 December 2011

Redshank returns!

Redshank returns!

Our visiting redshank is back on the stream outside of the visitor centre. Great views from Waterside Cafe. Elsewhere on site, tits and finches continue to flock to the feeders in abundance. [...]

10 December 2011

Siskin and a goldcrest

Siskin and a goldcrest

The horrid wet weather hasn't stopped plenty of woodland birds from visiting our feeders and bird tables today. Four siskin and a goldcrest are among the regulars down at Hawthorn Wood. [...]

8 December 2011

Todays Sightings

Todays Sightings

Wader Lake - AM - Tide Level: High Mallards - 49 Teal - 90 Wigeon - 3 Shoverler - 3 Black-Headed Gull - 140 Redshank - 16 Barn Owl - 1   Hawthorn Wood Bull [...]

6 December 2011

Wonderful woodland birds

Wonderful woodland birds

Flocks of tit and finch are converging around site, particularly in Hawthorn Wood, feasting on the fat balls, lard-smeared trees and niger seed. [...]

5 December 2011

Sightings Update

Sightings Update

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Feeding table of outside of building Grey Wagtail - Stream Channel [...]

3 December 2011

Todays Sightings

Todays Sightings

Wader Lake/AM/Tide Level Mid Canada Goose - 6 Mallard - 46 Teal - 116 Wigeon - 9 Shoveler - 2 Gadwall - 1 Black Headed Gull - 44 Redshank - 41 Lapwing - 20 Othe [...]

3 December 2011

Increasing teal and wigeon numbers

Increasing teal and wigeon numbers

An excellent count (for Washington) of 16 wigeon was noted on Wader Lake this morning. This winter visitor seems to be slowly increasing in number year-on-year. Teal numbers are also on the rise as winter approaches, with 150 mainly on Wader Lake, as well

2 December 2011

Crossbills spotted

Crossbills spotted

Six crossbills have been spotted flying over the staff car park.

2 December 2011