Lynda Donaldson – Wetland conservationist Any day in which I can explore the Fens in Spring and hear the whickering of Black-tailed Godwits after they return from their migration is special. It’s always beneficial to remind ourselves of the work we are doing and that it helps make a difference.

Our new paper is out 👇

WWT Welney access update • All roads from A10 are open (Littleport & ten mile bank). • ⁠Lady Fen trail closed due to large numbers of waders and wildfowl Cranes and pink-footed geese also regular • ⁠Main obs only hide available due to flooding

Enjoyed a morning at WWT Welney. Particularly enjoyed our coffee overlooking Lady Fen, with about a dozen Common Cranes and a group of Cattle Egrets.

It's a new month, so lets spin the wheel and find out what species a rewilding company wants to introduce next, as we play "Let's turn Norfolk into a big zoo". Ooh, it's...Dalmation Pelican! www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/why-rewild/r... and pressreleasehub.pa.media/article/inte...

Prepare for the cold-spell with the February issue of British Birds Journal! In this month's issue: - Ouse Washes and Whooper Swans - Britain's first Western olivaceous warbler - Do Eurasian Wrynecks drum? Available in Print or online through our Digital Subscription.

While most black-tailed godwits make at least 1 stop around the Mediterranean on their way south, two youngsters found their way to Senegal in single non-stop flights. W1WCCG really took our breath away. This first-time traveller covered >4700km to Senegal in 50 hrs. www.birdeyes.org/young-godwit...

🦢 The International Swan Census is almost here – this weekend! We still have a few priority sites that need coverage. Please check the map & help us assess how well our Whooper & Bewick’s Swan populations are faring. Every count matters! 🙏 bto.org/gsmp-isc 📸 @tangrigg.bsky.social #Ornithology

Today at Welney, 9 people on Hare walk, 67 people attended the Swan talk. Now having a glass of of Red wine after another rewarding day volunteering.

Your latest The Two Jonnies episode is live! Like other episodes but much, much better feat. @lizziebruce.bsky.social ♠️ #TheTwoJonnies @jonnybirder.bsky.social The Two Jonnies Episode 8 on Podbean, check it out! www.podbean.com/ei/pb-biss3-...

WWT Welney looking very wintery this week, with the Ouse Washes largely frozen over.

Can you help us fill the remaining vacant sites for the International Swan Census on 17-18 January? 🦢 Find and request a site at app.bto.org/gsmp/public/... Thank you! #UKBirding

1/ Can you help us count Bewick's and Whooper Swans for the International Swan Census on 17-18 January 2026? 🦢 Visit the vacant site map to request a site at app.bto.org/gsmp/pub... #Ornithology @webs-gsmp.bsky.social

RSPB seasonal positions @rspbscience.bsky.social are live & we are ready for applications! 🌱🪶🌊⛰️🐣 Huge variety of posts available for 2026: seabirds, veg surveys, visitor questionnaires, upland monitoring, wader chick tracking... all listed on the attachments via the link 👇 Deadline 11th Jan 2026 📆

📉 Our new paper shows Bewick’s Swan numbers in NW/NE Europe have fallen to ~12,900 birds - a 56.7% decline since 1995, with further losses predicted by 2026 unless survival or breeding success improves. Flyway-wide conservation is urgent. 🦢 Download paper > tidsskrift.dk/Wildfowl/art... #Ornithology

Starlings passing over Dersingham Bog are very impressive

WWT Welney @webs-gsmp.bsky.social counts from this week 🐦 Wigeon 4568 🐦 Pintail 791 🐦 Pochard 416 🐦 Mallard 957 🐦 Lapwing 4109 🐦 Black-tailed godwit 554 Complete count ⬇️ www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-cent...

📣 New paper out now in @conbiology.bsky.social! #Headstarting - hatching eggs and/or rearing chicks in captivity & releasing them back to the wild - has been increasingly used for #wader #conservation. But it can be challenging and expensive. So why do it and when❓ 📷WWT/Bob Ellis #godwit (1/4)

57 species at Welney WWT this afternoon for my @birdtrack.bsky.social list. Some impressive counts- Pintail 760, Pochard 639, Mallard 775. Three Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrids, 1 Tufted x Pochard hybrid. Also 8 Cranes, 6 Cattle Egret, 2 Gt White Egrets. #NorfolkBirding

WWT Welney looking stunning at the moment. Absolutely packed full of wintering wildfowl and waders.

This time, the washes were ready! 🦢✅ After a 570km U-turn north to Aberdeenshire, likely due to low water at the Ouse Washes, the same swan has migrated south again & arrived to restored, higher levels. A real-world example of landscape-scale habitat assessment by migratory birds.

WWT Welney was looking stunning today Bewick’s swans, hen harrier, little gull and flocks of waders & wildfowl

🦠 SAVE THE DATE! 🦜 I'm excited to announce that the theme of the 2027 BOU conference is Avian Disease Ecology! 📍 Nottingham, UK 📅 6–8 April 2027 🔗 Full details: lnkd.in/gPvFFDJe Please share widely! #BOU2027 #Ornithology #WildlifeDisease #AvianDisease #EcoHealth

The International Swan Census (ISC) is taking place on the weekend of 17th-18th January 2026 (WeBS January Core Count weekend), counting Whooper and Bewick’s Swans. Follow these simple steps to get involved 👇 @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social #UKBirding #Ornithology

✨ Whooper swans this evening at WWT Welney ✨

A week on from #StormAmy 🌬️ data from our tagged Whooper Swans show both storm assistance & storm displacement. Some birds made rapid migrations, others battled the elements – some out at sea for 55 hrs! As North Atlantic storms grow more frequent, understanding their impact is vital. 🦢 #Ornithology

🔉 Afternoon arrival of Whooper Swans at WWT Welney They were also in the company of 150 pink footed geese - a rare sight in this part of Norfolk

Grab yourself a cup of tea, and sit back and enjoy this week's BTO Migration Blog. And then head out and let us know what you spot over the weekend! www.bto.org/our-work/new... 📷 Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman/BTO #UKBirding #ornithology @birdtrack.bsky.social

The first Whooper swan families of 2025 arrived at WWT Welney this weekend. Encouraging to see several broods of 4.

The autumn equinox signified the move from summer to autumn but with it came the first flocks of wintering Whooper swans to WWT Welney.

One of the @ldvnnr.bsky.social reintroduced Corncrakes has pinged our MOTUS Tower! On 24th August at 21:32 it was picked up migrating over Spurn for 6 minutes! Amazingly, the same bird was detected just 90 minutes later at Weybourne, Norfolk! More info here www.facebook.com/share/p/1Arw...

Thank you for the fab feedback of the free shuttle service from Ely to WWT Welney

Delighted to announce we are launching a FREE bus from Ely to WWT Welney Wetland Centre on Tuesdays and Saturdays until 29 November, courtesy of funding from @greateranglia.bsky.social Book here www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-cent... #lowcarbonbirding #norfolkbirding

On #InternationalDogDay we spent the morning on Roydon Common I which there was a late cuckoo flying around

Great days birding at Welney. Highlight includes 7 cranes, 50+ ruff, colour ringed wood sandpaper (from Norway) and nice selection of birds common birds. Willow emerald damselfly and tansy beetle were both new for me.

Crane flocks are starting to return to WWT Welney for the autumn. #Norfolkbirding

As a volunteer in my 18th year at WWT Welney I think it’s safe for me to say, it’s just not about Swans, it’s a different world in Summer and definitely worth visiting as you can walk over the Washes on the Summer walk and explore what would normally be under water in Winter.

We are taking steps to help our wetlands become more resilient and adaptable to climate change. This will enable them to continue to support a wide range of species throughout changing weather systems. Find out more youtu.be/m6KGt7uOMqY?... @btobirds.bsky.social @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social

Corn buntings are a scarce Norfolk resident. It’s a delight to have a good population across WWT Welney with several pairs showing very well.

Fancy learning more about Dragonflies? WWT Welney is running a couple of beginner workshops lead by David Chandler Check out the link for more info www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-cent...

Did you know WWT Welney is just one of a handful of sites to host Tansey Beetle?

1/ Exciting news! Previously released headstarted Curlew have turned up at breeding sites, mainly in East Anglia, this year with 10 birds confirmed breeding and another dozen showing breeding-type behaviour. #Ornithology 🌍 🌐 Read the blog ➡️ www.curlewrecoveryproject.co.uk/breeding-rec...

Whooper swan cygnets from the weekend at WWT Welney Several pairs of Whooper swans remain at Welney throughout the summer as they are unable to migrate, however they do breed. What’s very cool, is their offspring have been recording migrating north in the spring #ukbirding

Yesterday on the Summer walk at WWT Welney, if you are visiting it’s always worth walking here and along the Tansy trail, you might see a Tansy beetle, if not at least you get to walk somewhere that is usually under water during the Winter.

Vacancy | Assistant Warden, WWT Welney We are looking for a proactive individual with a passion for British wildlife to join the flock. The role is very varied including surveying, habitat management, livestock checks, guided walks Closing date: 30 May 2025 More info 👉 bit.ly/3F7DAdV

A chilly dawn chorus walk at #WWTWelney this am Displaying marsh harriers, mating black tailed godwits, singing reed warblers and whitethroats plus ruff, common sandpipers, dunlin. Corncrake heard briefly at 4.30am. #norfolkbirding

Lovely day at WWT Welney. First three lapwing broods plus whinchat and wood sandpiper We are keeping Welney open for later every Saturday until 7pm. Please come and enjoy & spread the word #norfolkbirding

Do UK hatched Whooper Swans go to Iceland? These two hatched at WWT Welney last year & today were in Northumberland with other migrating Whoopers. Hopefully, we'll get sightings of them in Iceland 🤞

Today's Brucey bonus from WWT Welney are these 2 Little Terns from Nelson Lyle hide. #norfolkbirding