Latest sightings
Wildlife Sightings - 31/10/26
am/pm Wader Lake Species Water Level Total Shelduck 3 Teal 82 Lapwing 4 Grey Heron 5
31 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings - 30/10/26
Lots of activity at Hawthorn Wood hide, still swarms of harlequin ladybirds around and the Kingfisher zipping up the Gully after delicately perching on the stem of a stinging nettle (wow!) am/pm Wader Lake Species Wate
30 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings - 29/10/26
A Cetti's Warbler, still a notable species at Washington, was recorded at Round Table Pond, alongside Bullfinch and Goldcrest elsewhere on the reserve. Brown Hare was the standout mammal sighting from Hidden Meadow. am/pm Wader Lake
29 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings - 28/10/26
Great Kingfisher action with individuals flying onto the perch at the Kingfisher bank and down the length of wader lake and also onto the perches and fishing at Saline Lagoon. Several nice Gooseander using the River as well. am/pm W
28 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings - 26/10/26
A Buzzard was seen calling and flying between perches around Wader Lake. Two Common Snipe foraged on the bank at the far side of the lake and a couple Common Shelduck have returned, hanging out in front of Diageo Hide. am/pm Wader L
26 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 24/10/2026
A nice wigeon on wader lake :) am/pm Wader Lake Species Water Level Total Teal 83 Lapwing 1 Black-headed gull 9
24 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 20/10/2026
A lovely great white egret, little egret and two grey heron’s all on the Saline Lagoon together am/pm Wader Lake Species Water Level Total Teal 39 Black headed
20 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 19/10/2026
An Otter was seen swimming upstream visible from the River Viewpoint at the fox gate on Wader Lake Footpath. We’ve also had sightings of a female with two cubs over the last few weeks on camera traps around the reserve. am/pm Wade
19 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 18/10/2026
Large flocks of Goldfinch flying through the site’s hedgerows, several Little Egret on the lake, river and lagoon. am/pm Wader Lake Species Water Level Total Little Egret 4
18 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 17/10/2026
A Water rail showing opening on the Lagoon islands, alongside little egret, common snipe and a Kingfisher zipping around somewhere in the background. Lots of great passerine action around the site, with numerous Tree creepers and Goldcrests seen and the C
17 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 16/10/2026
Continued great Kingfisher sightings and Cetti’s Warbler still being heard in the Filter Reedbed- stop off at Hollowood viewpoint to listen out for it in the reedbed during your visit. am/pm Wader Lake Species Water
16 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 13/10/2026
A Great White Egret walked right past Saline Lagoon Hide!!!!! A metre from the window, it was EPIC. The Kingfisher was zipping around Wader Lake, Goldcrests are inundating the hedgerows across the site (seen at least 5 across the site but there’s defini
13 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings - 12/10/26
A Cetti’s Warbler was heard from the top of Wader Lake calling loudly and could be heard from the hides, whilst a Jack Snipe hung around the far bank of the lake. Juvenile Cormorant’s were perching opposite Saline Lagoon hide, drying their wings befor
12 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 11/10/2026
Kingfishers were seen flying around the gully opposite the river viewpoint and again at Window on The Wear, while a Cetti’s Warbler could be heard down Wader Lake footpath. Some Curlew could be seen on both the lake and the river and a lone Jack Sn
11 October 2026
Wildlife Sightings 10/10/2026
Great White Egret, Little Egret and Kingfisher on the lagoon this morning am Wader Lake Species Water Level Low Total Teal 30 Wigeon 2
10 October 2026