Latest sightings
Summer arrivals
We have had our first male wheatear on site today. Sitting on a fence post on Lady Fen (next to the visitor centre). The reserve and Lady Fen are packed with birds; waders like avocet, redshank and lapwing that are displaying, mating and making their
20 March 2014
Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS)
Volunteer doing WeBs count Goldeneye - 2 Ruddy shelduck - 1 Ruff - 3 Great crested grebe - 22 Cormorant - 68 Little egret - 40 Grey heron - 21 Mute swan - 64 Whooper swan - 139 Greylag goose - 20 Canada goose - 1 Wige
18 March 2014
Out on the reserve
Sightings from 13.03.14 Lady Fen Golden plover Ruff Lapwing & redshank displaying Shelduck Brown hares Main observatory Black-tailed godwits Ruff Dunlin Avocet Redshank Mallard Teal Wigeon Pintail Tufted duck Pocahrd Shelduck Whooper swan Mute swan Ly
16 March 2014
Out on the reserve today
Footpaths to Nelson-Lyle, Lyle and Friends hide are open from Thursday 13 March, giving further access on the reserve. More land is appearing each day to encourage black-tailed godwits, avocets, ruff and lapwing back, adding to the pochard, tufted ducks
12 March 2014
Out on the reserve today
Water levels have risen further over the last couple of days so that we are back to the main hide being the only one accessible and the Welney Wash road (part of the A1101) being closed again. We have also had some chain sawing works carried out on the
6 March 2014
Out on the reserve today
Water levels have crept up over the last 24 hours but the footpaths re-opened yesterday are still open today. (Wellies still required as paths are muddy). Lady Fen Golden plover - 250 Lapwing Oystercatcher - 2 Shelduck Hares - 15 Main observatory Golden
2 March 2014
Out on the reserve today
Water on the reserve has now dropped far enough for us to re-open the Nelson-Lyle, Lyle and Friends hides. Footpaths are still very muddy so wellies are essential and unfortunately the paths are not yet fit for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Sightings from
1 March 2014
Out on the reserve today
Icelandic black-tailed godwits are now passing through the reserve on their way up to their breeding grounds. As they come into their brick-orange plumage ready for the breeding season it is quite a sight to see them all grouped tightly on the spits of
27 February 2014
Dawn swan count from 18.02.14
Ouse washes total: Bewick's swan - 313 Whooper swan - 3880 WWT Welney totals: Bewick's swan - 264 Whooper swan - 1519
25 February 2014
Out on the reserve today
Water levels have now receded enough to reveal some spits of land on the reserve which is encouraging the wading birds and dabbling ducks back onto the reserve. More variety in birds can be seen from the main hide and we hope to open some of the footpat
24 February 2014
Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS)
Highlights: Goldeneye - 2 Short-eared owl - 2 Wigeon - 4336 Mallard - 578 Pochard - 438 Tufted duck - 251 Teal - 195 Pintail - 57 Shoveler - 39 Gadwall -36 Shelduck - 2 Lapwing - 337 Redshank - 38 Ruff - 9 Curlew - 8 Oystercatcher - 3 Snipe - 2 Black-ta
17 February 2014
Out on the reserve today
Now that we have a much calmer day where you can actually see what is out on the reserve; here are a few sightings from today so far. Marsh harrier - 1 Buzzard - 5 Sparrowhawk - 1 Goldeneye - 3 Pintail - 2 Lapwing Golden plover Lady Fen Skylarks singing a
16 February 2014
Out on the reserve today
Hen harrier - 1 (ringtail/female) Shelduck - 5
29 January 2014
Reserve update
Hare by Ken Rowe Hare walks are continuing as normal and the mild conditions this January have meant that boxing is already well underway. On mild days we are getting between 10-16 active hares spotted on the walks.
23 January 2014
Dawn swan count
WWT Welney totals Bewick's swan - 964 Whooper swan - 2641 Ouse washes totals Bewick's swan - 964 Whooper swan - 5083
22 January 2014