Welney news
Cranes on the move
Update Mon 24 July: At least six cranes roosted on the reserve Saturday night. At the bat & barn owl evening which was held at the centre, visitors watched four cranes fly onto the reserve in the late evening. These four birds were a family of two
17 July 2017
Rare birds released on the Fens in ‘conservation first’ for the UK
25 rare black-tailed godwits were released into their new home in the Cambridgeshire Fens yesterday by conservationists from RSPB and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) as part of ‘Project Godwit’. After the eggs were removed from nests and hatc
13 June 2017
Largest family to date for Icelandic swan pair
Whooper swan pair with cygnets by Kim Tarsey . A pair of injured whooper swans have hatched a brood of five cygnets this summer at WWT Welney Wetland Centre. The pair who first bred on the reserve in 2011 are u
6 June 2017
Wading birds hatch out summer chicks
Little ringed plover and chicks by Peter Ward . Despite the news that the black-winged stilt pair did not manage to successfully raise their chicks, there are other wading birds who are faring better on the re
4 June 2017
Sad news for black-winged stilts
Sadly, since the original news of the black-winged stilt pair hatching their chicks, we have seen the adults birds without the chicks and they have now moved from Lady Fen, to feed on the reserve. Despite the fact that the chicks haven't survived, this
1 June 2017
Black-winged stilts hatch chicks for first time at WWT Welney
Black-winged stilt pair with chick For the first time ever a pair of unusual wading birds, black-winged stilts, have chosen to breed on the reserve at WWT Welney Wetland Centre. This species of bird has been a vagrant
31 May 2017
Where do the waders go?
Greenshank by Ann Karin Gaasland Each season brings us different birds to see on the reserve, some travelling North from Southern Europe and Africa to spend the summer with us and some travelling South from Northern E
29 May 2017
First chicks mark fresh future for rare fenland wading bird
In a UK first, 26 fluffy black-tailed godwit chicks have been hatched by conservationists in the Fens this week. The rare chicks will be hand-reared until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild. Black-tai
12 May 2017
Today's Highlights
Black-tailed godwit Pochard Teal Avocet Gadwall Shoveler Dunlin -2 Little ringed plover - 8 Lapwing Redshank Mallard Pied Wagtail Common sandpiper Swallow Tree sparrow -4 Ruff - 2 Swift
8 May 2017
Today's Highlights
2 Black-winged stilt - Lady Fen, directly in front of the visitor centre Garganey - Friends Hide 3 Great white egret - 2 at Friends Hide, 1 at Reedbed Hide 2 Ringed plover - Lady Fen 3 Wheatear Corn bunting Cuckoo Dunlin Redshank Lapwing Swallow House mar
30 April 2017
Spring migrants - spoonbill
Spoonbill by Ray Mathias Spring migrants are passing through and dropping in at quite a pace now. This spoonbill was on site for two days this week resting and feeding up on our wetlands. Its distinctive flattened
28 April 2017
Spring migrants - wheatear
Wheatear by Bob Ellis A #Spring Special at WWT Welney, the wheatear; freshly arrived after spending their winter in Africa. These beautiful birds are often seen on the ground looking for insects to feed on, keep you e
27 April 2017
Full of the joys of spring
Cow and yellow wagtail/WWT Spring is a time of year to be celebrated as an incredible array of wildlife returns to the UK for summer or emerges from their winter hideaways. The race is then on to find a mate and pro
27 April 2017
9-11 May Gift shop closed for stock take
From Tuesday 9 - Thursday 11 May the gift shop within the visitor centre at WWT Welney will be closed for the annual stock take. This will not affect admissions or entry to the reserve, and all other areas of the visitor centre such as the cafe, pond ro
26 April 2017
Main observatory works
Aerial view of centre by Sky Vertical On Wednesday 26 April there will be works to the entrance of the main hide as we install the electric all-access door. Access to the reserve will still be possible as well as to
25 April 2017