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Welney news

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher by Bob Ellis All winter we had a male kingfisher as a regular sighting, particularly on the ponds around our visitor centre.  This spring he has found a mate and they can regularly be seen from several of

21 April 2017

Great white egrets

Great white egrets

Great white egret by David Owen Great white egrets are head and shoulders....and body above the little egrets. Look out for them on the pools and ditches throughout the reserve. This afternoon (Thurs 20 April) we had

20 April 2017

Robin chicks hatching

Robin chicks hatching

Robin chick Awww look at it's....'HAIR'!!! This newly hatched chick is sporting an impressive head of 'hair', some might say it is a baby only a mother could love.  This was the first robin chick to have hatched in t

13 April 2017

Bearded tits in the reeds

Bearded tits in the reeds

Bearded tit by David Bradley Bearded tits have been spotted recently in the reed beds in front of our hides... It's always worth sitting and waiting to see what comes along....or what might be already sneaking through

27 March 2017

Insects become more active

Insects become more active

Green socks peacock beetle by Kim Tarsey The insect activity is starting to pick up on the reserve, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled when walking along the footpaths, and not just for birds!! These images are of

24 March 2017

Artist Gill McCoy features in the gallery this March & April

Artist Gill McCoy features in the gallery this March & April

Throughout March and April the gallery is alive with colourful, creative artwork by Gill McCoy.  Gill currently works at WWT Welney, and you may well see her as you are welcomed to the centre on a visit.  Gill's collection depicts many different specie

12 March 2017

Signs of spring

Signs of spring

Coltsfoot in flower The first signs of spring can be seen this week with willow catkins beginning to flower along the footpaths, sprays of coltsfoot around the ponds at the visitor centre and birds getting ready for b

11 March 2017

Golden plover migration spectacle

Golden plover migration spectacle

Numbers of golden plover have been increasing over the last couple of weeks to make an impressive flock of over 5,000 strong.  They are using our wetlands as feeding grounds, for drinking water, a safe place to roost and to keep themselves in good condit

6 March 2017

Daisy Clarke makes it to Denmark before Storm Doris hits the UK

Daisy Clarke makes it to Denmark before Storm Doris hits the UK

Our Bewick's swan, Daisy Clarke, is now in Denmark, having had a breif stop in the Netherlands and Germany as she moves further north east towards the breeding grounds in Arctic Russia. Good luck Daisy Clarke! Leho is yet to start her journey, so there ar

22 February 2017

Swans begin their spring migration

Swans begin their spring migration

Hundreds of Bewick's swans were visible on our final two swan's awake mornings last week and seemed reluctant to fly out very early. This seems to be because they were resting up ready to migrate - as seen with one of our GPS tagged birds, Daisy Clarke, s

20 February 2017

Dawn swan count

Dawn swan count

This morning we conducted our February swan count and found there to be 1,829 Bewick’s swans and 2,000 whooper swans on the WWT section of the Ouse Washes.  This indicates that the first few swans have started their spring migrations, we will soon see

14 February 2017

WeBS Count 13 Feb 17

WeBS Count 13 Feb 17

Great Crested Grebe 1 Cormorant 2 Great White Egret 1 Grey Heron 6 Mute Swan 32 Bewick's Swan 91 Whooper Swan 88 Greylag 75 Canada Goose 3 Shelduck 6 Wigeon 4743 Teal 516 Mallard 670 Pintail 72 Shoveler 92 Pochard 555 Tufted Duck 74 Moorhen 9 Coot 615 Lap

13 February 2017

Reserve access

Reserve access

All hides and footpaths are open.  There is some standing water on the path to Reedbed hide, resulting in no scooter travel along this one path and wellies needed or you can skirt around it with sturdy shoes.

9 February 2017

Partnership works to keep swans in the air

Partnership works to keep swans in the air

This winter further measures are being taken to reduce the chances of swans flying into overhead power lines, which result in unnecessary deaths or serious injury.  Co-operative working between WWT Welney Wetland Centre and UK Power Networks means that p

31 January 2017

Aerial filming of WWT Welney

Aerial filming of WWT Welney

Very few people get to see a bird’s eye view of our wetlands for real. But thanks to our local aerial filming specialists Sky Vertical we’ve captured some fantastic clips of the landscape for you to enjoy. This clip shows you the visitor centre, Lady

28 January 2017