Latest sightings
Otter
At the evening feed on Friday 18 January there was an univited guest in the form of an otter. It looked quite small in size so potentially it was a juvenile from this year and was obviously using this area of unfrozen water as an air hole. The birds d
19 January 2013
Peregrine sighting
Lady Fen Peregrine falcon - 1 Buzzard - 1
18 January 2013
WeBS Count
Water levels have improved and are continuing to drop, but the frozen conditions we are forecast will mean that every available bit of open, fresh water will be a lifeline to our birds, wader numbers may drop as the ground freezes but wildfowl will remain
14 January 2013
Today's sightings
Merganser - 1 female Goldeneye - 2 female White lapwing - 1 (in amongst the flock using the spit of land at main observatory) Sparrowhawk - 1 All hides are now open except the Reedbed hide, but wellies are essential to get to hides apart from the main obs
11 January 2013
Today's sightings
Lady fen/Bank farm Marsh harrier - 2 Buzzard - 1 Barn owl - 1 Hares starting to box this afternoon Water levels are continuing to drop and we will keep you posted as to when footpaths and hides being to become available.
8 January 2013
Today's sightings
Despite the fog today both warden walks managed to come across some hares on Lady Fen. The evening feeds are becoming better with a greater number of swans in the floodlit area even if not needing to actually feed off the grain we are putting out. it i
6 January 2013
Bewick's swan count
Bewick's swans - 940 (Ouse washes at WWT Welney)
4 January 2013
WeBS count
Wigeon - 7461 Teal - 1039 Mallard - 910 Pochard - 454 Shoveler - 51 Pintail - 19 Gadwall - 5 Little egret - 2 Lapwing - 6000 Golden plover - 2000 Curlew - 10 Redshank - 8 Snipe - 2 Kestrel - 2 Buzzard - 1 Barn owl - 1 Fieldfare - 40 Goldfinch - 30 Skylark
3 January 2013
Warden walks and Bewick's sightings
Hares on warden walk The warden walks are proving a hugh success at getting visitors closer to the brown hares out on Lady Fen, today the afternoon group managed to get within 40 yards of 2 hares huddled on the ground
2 January 2013
Wader spectacle
Lapwing flock on Lady Fen Despite the rain today a larger group of whooper swans remained on Bank Farm to feast on the potatos with at least 3 leg ringed birds and Bladur and his family present. The walk with a ward
27 December 2012
Goldeneye & red kite
Goldeneye - 1 female straight out from the main observatory towards the far side of the reserve. Red kite - 1 (flew over the centre and main observatory at 12.15pm). The second warden walk today had sightings of peregrine falcon, merlin, 10 hares, barn ow
26 December 2012
Wildlife spectacular and warden walks
Each morning before 10am there are 2000 whooper swans and 200 Bewick's swans waking up on their roost next to the visitor centre. We are opening early on Thurs 27, Sat 29 and Mon 31 December to allow people to witness this from the comfort of the wigeo
26 December 2012
Swan totals
The total amount of swans on the Ouse washes are as follows: Bewick's swan - 1140 Whooper swan - 5086
22 December 2012
Wildfowl & wader spectacle
Lady Fen and Bank farm are currently holding thousands of lapwing, golden plover and wigeon. So even though it's raining the birds here don't mind the weather. There are also over 200 pochard in front of the main hide as well as teal mixed in with th
22 December 2012
Today's sightings
Marsh harrier Sightings from Lady Fen and Bank Farm, all viewed from the Wigeon cafe in the visitor centre Marsh harrier - 1 female, hunting Buzzard - 1, hunting Curlew - 20 Egyptian goose - 2
19 December 2012