Waterlife January - March 2015

waterlife The magazine of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust | 191 Jan/Mar 2015 | £4.25 | wwt.org.uk

Waterlife 191 JANUARY/MARCH 2015

JOIN THE

WETLAND

PARTY

HOW YOU CAN INFLUENCE THE NEXT ELECTION

PLUS

MIRANDA KRESTOVNIKOFF PAGE 24

INSIDE THIS ISSUE wwt.org.uk

TAG TEAM

NORTHERN DELIGHT

PICTURE PERFECT

FOLLOWING THE GREENLAND WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE

WWT MARTIN MERE: THE FIRST 40 YEARS

THE WINNERS OF OUR PHOTO COMPETITION

01 Cover.indd 1

09/12/2014 16:42

o in f cus ocular and Telescope Specialists e-mail: enquiries@infocusoptics.co.uk

The Binoc

l HERTFORDSHIRE London Colney, AL2 1BB (Satnav use AL4 0PF) - 01727 827799 Closed on Sunday

l NORFOLK Titchwell, Nr King’s Lynn, PE31 8BB - 01485 210101 Open seven days l WEST YORKSHIRE Denby Dale, HD8 8QL - 01484 864729 Closed on Sunday l RUTLAND Egleton Reserve, LE15 8BT - 01572 770656 Open seven days l GLOUCESTERSHIRE WWT Slimbridge, GL2 7BT - 01453 890978 Open seven days l LANCASHIRE WWT Martin Mere, L40 0TA - 01704 897020 Open seven days l LONDON London Wetland Centre, SW13 9WT - 0208 409 4433 Open seven days

in focus SALES EVENTS ‘Test under field conditions’ NORTH AND MIDLANDS Hauxley NR, Northumberland (Northumberland Wildlife Trust) Sun 14 Dec Sun 11 Jan / Sun 8 Feb / Sun 8 Mar / Sun 12 Apr Low Barns NR, County Durham (Durham Wildlife Trust) Sun 18 Jan / Sun 15 Mar North Cave Wetlands, East Yorkshire Sun 7 Dec / Sun 1 Feb / Sun 5 Apr Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire Sun 29 Mar Washington WWT, Tyne and Wear Sun 28 Dec / Sun 25 Jan / Sun 22 Feb Sun 22 Mar / Sun 26 Apr Whisby Nature Park, Lincoln (Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust) Sun 21 Dec / Sun 15 Feb / Sun 19 Apr

Wolseley Centre, Rugeley, Staffs (Staffordshire Wildlife Trust) Sat 4 Apr SOUTH AND EAST Arundel WWT, West Sussex Sun 7 Dec / Sat 20 Dec / Sun 11 Jan / Tue 20 Jan Sun 8 Feb Tue 17 Feb / Sun 8 Mar / Tue 17 Mar Sat 11 Apr / Tue 21 Apr Elmley Marsh NNR, Nr. Sheerness, Kent Sat 10 Jan / Sat 7 Feb / Sat 7 Mar / Sun 12 Apr Lackford Lakes, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Sat 17 Jan / Sun 15 Mar Lee Valley Country Park Sun 28 Dec / Sun 1 Mar Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex Sat 13 Dec Sun 18 Jan / Sat 14 Feb / Sat 14 Mar / Sat 18 Apr Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Kent Sun 14 Dec / Sun 29 Mar SOUTH AND WEST Blashford Lakes, Ringwood, Hampshire (Hampshire Wildlife Trust) Tue 9 Dec / Tue 6 Jan Tue 3 Feb / Tue 3 Mar / Tue 7 Apr Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset Tue 23 Dec / Sun 4 Jan / Sat 21 Feb / Sat 21 Mar Sat 25 Apr WALES and SCOTLAND Llanelli WWT, Carmarthenshire Sun 21 Dec / Sun 25 Jan / Sun 22 Feb Sun 22 Mar / Sun 26 Apr Caerlaverock WWT Sun 4 January / Sun 1 Mar A good range of optics available seven days a week at the WWT shop Caerlaverock

The NEW Opticron MM3 50 ED Travel Scope kit complete with an HDF zoom Eyepiece, Stay-on case and a Sherpa 200R Tripod. Now also available with a 60mm objective lens as the MM3 60 ED. Both kits offer really compact and lightweight travel solutions.

£649.00

£549.00

Swarovski EL 8x32 Binoculars combine state-of-the-art optics with Swarovision technology and ultimate functionality.

PART EXCHANGE ALWAYS CONSIDERED ON BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES

£1440.00 Opticron Discovery 8x32 is an ultra-compact lightweight waterproof binocular with fully coated optics and phase corrected prisms.

Great value for money

£149.00

FESTIVAL OF BIRDS at WWT SLIMBRIDGE

on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2015 A great day out for all the family at the world famous WWT Slimbridge Reserve.

Compare and purchase optical equipment with expert advice, test and compare equipment under field conditions.

The reserve opens at 9.30am For news from all our shops see us on

Joint Main Sponsor of

All events from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm for latest information ring any of our shops APPROVED OPTICS PARTNER

Check our website at www.infocusoptics.co.uk for latest prices l Part exchange always considered, top prices paid l Monthly special offers l Second-hand list (updated twice weekly) 002_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 2

09/12/2014 11:28

CONTENTS

On the cover: Common cranes/NaturePL, Jim Lennon, Shutterstock

In the last issue we introduced you to Hope, the Bewick’s swan. Hope is fitted with a GPS tag that lets us track her remarkable journeys, but there is a risk that Hope and many other swans won’t make it on their return journey to Britain this year. As Waterlife went to print, we were still waiting for her to return.

Bewick’s swan numbers plummeted from 29,000 to 18,000 between 1995 and 2010 – that’s more than a third lost in just 15 years.

Climate change, disruption to once dependable food sources due to changes in farming activity, infrastructure development, illegal hunting and the presence of power pylons: each may carry life-threatening risks to migratory swans.

That’s why we are poised to lead an international project to study the causes of the decline and take action to reverse them.

To start putting our plan into action we needed to raise a total of £70,000, and thanks to a generous pledge, we were given the chance to have every pound donated by you doubled. We asked for your help, and amazingly you smashed the target.

We have much more to do, but with your help we can begin to understand and tackle the threats, and give swans like Hope the best possible chance to survive. To continue supporting or receiving news of Hope and her companions, visit wwt.org.uk/swans.

Sacha Dench

GIVING HOPE TO SWANS

WWT is still awaiting the return of Hope, the Bewick’s swan, to Britain this year

In this issue...

4 7 14 16 18 24 29 34 37 39 43 44 46 49 66

Front lines Martin Spray meets HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Waterways News and views from the world of WWT Wigeon post Your letters, plus our crossword and competition Private life Getting to know the Greenland white-fronted goose Photo competition The winning entries in all their glory The gallery Miranda Krestovnikoff extols the wonders of Steart WWT and you How you can support WWT’s Wetland Manifesto Centre point Widening horizons for birds at WWT Welney Fresh looks Some of the exciting new developments at WWT Home from home A celebration of WWT Martin Mere’s anniversary Netlands Our regular overview of WWT’s online world Wonderful world Amazing tales from behind the scenes at WWT Kids’ zone Steve Backshall introduces nature’s great dancers Down your way All the news and events at your local centre Back chat James Millar’s innovative approach to birdwatching

WWT is a leading global conservation organisation committed to the protection of wetlands and all that live in and around them. WWT is the only UK charity with a national network of specialist wetland centres that people can visit. It was founded in 1946 by the late Sir Peter Scott, the renowned naturalist and artist.

HEADQUARTERS Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT 01453 891900 wwt.org.uk membership@wwt.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1030884 and SC039410 CENTRES For full contact details, please see page 49 WWT Arundel 01903 883355 WWT Caerlaverock 01387 770200 WWT Castle Espie 028 9187 4146 WWT Llanelli 01554 741087 WWT London 020 8409 4400 WWT Martin Mere 01704 895181 WWT Slimbridge 01453 891900 WWT Washington 0191 416 5454 WWT Welney 01353 860711

WATERLIFE The quarterly magazine of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Managing editor: Katy Baird waterlife@wwt.org.uk Executive editor: Emma Stephens Editorial board: Zoe Cameron, Ray Clark, Baz Hughes, David Salmon, Rob Shore, Mark Simpson Editor: Malcolm Tait malcolm.tait@thinkpublishing.co.uk Senior sub-editor: Marion Thompson Designer: George Walker Group advertising manager: Sonal Mistry sonal.mistry@thinkpublishing.co.uk 020 8962 3020 Publisher: John Innes Think, The Pall Mall Deposit, 124-128 Barlby Road, London W10 6BL thinkpublishing.co.uk

Waterlife is published four times a year, and is printed

by Herons, on UPM Ultra Silk 70gsm, an FSC paper accredited as coming from well-managed forest.

Views expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of WWT. ISSN: 1752-7392 Average net circulation for the period Jan-Dec 2013: 94,153

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

03 Contents_WWT_Jan15v2.indd 3

Waterlife

3

18/12/2014 12:51

FRONT LINES

PAST MEMORIES Martin Spray CBE, WWT Chief Executive The history of organisations, from their

inception to the present, is not only fascinating, but sometimes gives an insight into the future. WWT has an extraordinary and dynamic history marked by often groundbreaking developments of their time. We were driven for the first 43 years of our existence by one of the great movers and shakers of conservation in the last century. Sir Peter Scott not only shaped the course of WWT, but of conservation worldwide.

Prince Philip recalled Peter’s compulsive doodling habit at meetings.

‘People used to stay behind to try to get Peter’s doodles.’ His Royal Highness has quite a collection.

Shutterstock; Teri Pengilley

The latter quality, of course, enabled him to engage people from all walks of life, and to persuade and inspire them of the importance of conservation.

4

Waterlife

‘I feel that Peter Scott was ahead of conservation itself. He was responsible for a lot of great conservation achievements. When you think back to when I got involved in the 1950s, we were worrying about rhinos and elephants. It’s all back in the news again and it’s even worse than it was then. But I think it might have been worse yet if we hadn’t done a little something about it in the 50s.’

My all too brief meeting with one of WWT’s great supporters ended with a view that, for me, sums up the organisation and its founder.

‘WWT was a phenomenal and fascinating concept, and to find Slimbridge and to establish it there was a stroke of genius.’

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was

involved in the early years of WWT and was its president for six years. In June, His Royal Highness kindly gave his time to me for an interview about his memories of Peter and of the early days of the organisation. It was an extremely interesting and insightful meeting.

The Duke of Edinburgh recalled his first visit to Slimbridge with James Robertson Justice, one of the first trustees. Peter and Philippa Scott were, at that time, living in the small cottage on-site. To his amusement, lunch was roast duck, which His Royal Highness offered to carve. His memory of Peter was of his passion for everything he did.

‘Peter was a great communicator, both in written and spoken forms. He had a distinctive manner on radio and television, and he had great charm.’

As for Peter’s and WWT’s contribution?

WWT still is a phenomenal concept

His recollection of those early days of

and, looking at the world as it stands, is every bit as important and relevant now as it was back in the early days.

post-war conservation was the focus on protecting endangered species – something that is still very relevant today. But it was the growing realisation at that time, that the key to success was to conserve whole habitats to protect species, that forged the way forward for conservation as it is today. ‘They had to co-exist with other species, and if they were migratory it made it even more complicated, and on top of that you had to get the support of local people.

Without that it was never going to work.’

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

04-05 Front Lines_WWT_Jan15v2.indd 4

09/12/2014 14:59

WWT was a phenomenal concept, and to find Slimbridge and to establish it there was a stroke of genius

Bewick’s swan

04-05 Front Lines_WWT_Jan15v2.indd 5

09/12/2014 15:01

006_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 6

09/12/2014 11:46

WWT NEWS

waterways NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS CONSERVATION

DANGER MUSSELS IN

Shutterstock; © David Aldridge – Cambridge University; © Brian Gadsby

Early last year, a group of scientists identified the quagga mussel as the greatest single threat to Britain’s wildlife of a range of alien species that might one day arrive in this country. In October, that day came when quagga mussels were found in a reservoir at Wraysbury, near Heathrow.

The problem with quagga mussels is that their vast capacity to filter water upsets the natural balance of the food web, and their waste can poison drinking water for people and wildlife alike.

‘This is a worrying development that could be devastating to British wetlands,’ says WWT’s Head of Conservation Policy, Jeff Knott. ‘Quagga mussels are likely to indirectly cause suffering and death for hundreds of thousands of native animals and plants, and cost millions of pounds in tax and water bills to protect drinking water supplies.

‘These tiny mussels can be devastating, but look so innocuous, which is why it’s so difficult for boaters, anglers and other water users to avoid accidentally transferring them between waterbodies when they latch on to their equipment. That’s why it’s so important for all water users to remember the motto “clean, check, dry” when they pack up their equipment, to help slow the spread.

‘Quagga mussels are a prime example of why we need stronger controls on invasive species being brought into this country. Prevention is far cheaper and more effective than trying to control an infestation that’s already established.’

If you find a suspected quagga mussel, please report it via nonnativespecies.org/alerts/ quaggamussel

Tickled pink As it prepared for its 40th anniversary celebrations (see page 39), WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre enjoyed a wonderful new record last October, when no fewer than 45,800 pink-footed geese arrived. The previous record was 36,000, back in 2010.

‘This was one of my most memorable moments at Martin Mere,’ says Reserve Manager Tom Clare. ‘As I looked out on that early October morning, the two marshes were completely covered in geese.’

950

Distance in m travelled b iles y pinkfooted gees their breedin e from g grou in Iceland to nds Martin Mere.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

07 News.indd 7

Waterlife

7

09/12/2014 16:08

WWT NEWS

Turtle dove

award for the spoonie team

Sacha Dench

The WWT Conservation Breeding team has been honoured with the BTO’s Marsh Award for Innovative Ornithology, for its part in the attempt to save the spoonbilled sandpiper from extinction. The award, presented by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, was received by Nigel Jarrett, WWT’s Head of Conservation Breeding, at the BTO ceremony in London.

‘This is a real honour for the WWT Conservation Breeding team,’ says Nigel.

‘The plight of the spoon-billed sandpiper has pulled together conservationists from all over the world and we’re very lucky to work with the support of a great many experts in the field.

‘There’s a long way to go before the “spoonie” has a secure future in the wild, and some of the biggest challenges still lie ahead, but it’s wonderful to feel that we’ve played a part in moving towards that goal.’

To find out more about the project, visit saving-spoon-billed-sandpiper.com, and to sponsor a spoonie, simply visit adoption.wwt.org.uk.

migratory mystery There’s worrying news in the latest State of the UK’s Birds report, published in October by a consortium of UK conservation organisations including WWT. The report reveals declining trends for several of the UK’s summer migrants. Species such as whinchat, nightingale, tree pipit and spotted flycatcher, which winter in the humid zone of Africa, have fallen in number by around 70% since the late 1980s, while birds such as sand martin, whitethroat and sedge warbler, which winter in the arid zone south of the Sahara, have declined by nearly 20%. The turtle dove is faring particularly badly, having declined by an astonishing 88% since 1995.

‘The length of many bird migrations makes it very difficult to pinpoint where and what is causing populations to fall,’ says WWT Species Monitoring Officer Colette Hall. ‘So the more information we can get all along the migration routes – land use changes, new infrastructure, etc – the better we can target protection measures.

‘It’s important that we help build up the capacity of local bird organisations and volunteers across the world to provide vital information through their own long-term monitoring.’

Concern about migratory bird species is growing, and future editions of the State of the UK’s Birds report will contain a regular update to the migratory birds indicator.

love of the lough Did you catch the BBC’s Autumnwatch last year? If so, you may have seen the beauty of Strangford Lough captured in a special film about Castle Espie’s brent geese, filmed by cinematographer Sophie Darlington. Sophie has filmed all over the world, but says that there is something about the autumn light of Northern Ireland that she finds particularly ‘limpid, glorious and magical’.

8

Waterlife

08-09 Newsv2.indd 8

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:20

home from home This dragonfly nymph was one of several tiny creatures to be rehomed while WWT Washington Wetland Centre tackled the invasive Canadian pondweed in the reserve’s Forgotten Meadow ponds. Dragonfly nymphs can spend up to five years at the bottom of a pond before emerging to become an adult.

Support WWT – tax-free! Payroll Giving (also known as Give as You Earn or Workplace Giving) is a flexible scheme that allows anyone who pays UK income tax to give regularly to charities on a tax-free basis. Payroll Giving donations are deducted from an employee’s pay before tax, so each £1 you give will only cost you 80p, or 60p if you’re

a higher-rate taxpayer. It’s cheaper because it’s tax-free – for example, a donation of £5 per month costs the basic rate taxpayer £4 and the taxman pays the rest! Many companies already run Payroll Giving schemes, so why not ask your employer if they have a scheme in place or visit wwt.org.uk/support/payroll-giving and make your donations to WWT go further?

new year, new challenge Christmas has come and gone, and no doubt you are plotting your New Year’s resolutions. Fear not, we can help you get yours off to a good start and support conservation at the same time. Not bad for the start of the year.

Maybe you want to learn something new? You could do a sponsored birdwatch, learning new birds at the same time. How about that unrealised hobby of baking? You could hold a cake sale at work. You might even just want to burn off the extra sprouts you consumed over the festive season. We’d suggest a run, dressed as

a flamingo, of course, raising funds for WWT like Alan below.

As a wetland conservation charity, we rely on your support and generosity to help fund our vital work.

There are many weird and wonderful things that you could do to fundraise for WWT, and you can do this on your own, as a group or even get your work colleagues to chip in.

It’s easy to get involved, and we’ve got a handy guide to help you.

Download it at wwt.org. uk/champions, or contact Ellie on 01453 891157 or email eleanor. wise@wwt.org.uk for your free copy!

Save ethically and support WWT With Triodos Bank, you can save money ethically, earn interest and help WWT all at the same time. Triodos is a different kind of bank that only lends its savers’ money to people and organisations that work to make the world a better place – visit triodos.co.uk/wwt.

Fundraise through recycling With our friends at The Recycling Factory, we are working to safely dispose of your inkjet and toner cartridges, mobile phones, and a range of other electronic equipment such as cameras and sat-navs or iPods.

By recycling these potentially toxic items, you can ensure they don’t end up as landfill – where cartridges, for example, can take up to 100 years to decompose – and help raise funds to support WWT’s work.

Help to protect the environment and dispose of your unwanted electronics and cartridges by dropping off these items at the collection boxes at your nearest centre or by picking up a freepost recycling label (sadly, freepost envelopes can no longer be used for mobile phones). Alternatively, download the label from wwt.org.uk/ wwtrecycle or call The Recycling Factory on 0800 091 0696 for more information.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

08-09 Newsv2.indd 9

Waterlife

Shutterstock

Payroll Giving

9

09/12/2014 16:19

WWT NEWS

Pupils using a GPS logger, with mic and camera

IT’s for the kids

striking out You may remember reading about attempts by WWT, Electricity North West and Lancaster University to reduce the numbers of bird strikes against overhead power lines in the WWT Martin Mere area, in recent issues of Waterlife. The collisions are not only potentially fatal for the birds, but cause power cuts in the region, and the 50% reduction in power cuts due to bird strikes since last winter shows that the scheme is working. In all, 150 bird diverters were attached to the overhead power lines to raise their visibility for the

The

big dig

Creating wetlands that provide habitat for wildlife, inspiring places for people, and providing water and flood/pollution relief takes a lot of specialist machinery. To help WWT out in this work, Kubota UK, a leading provider of groundworks and tractor equipment, has stepped up to the plate, becoming a corporate patron, while supplying WWT centres with essential equipment and training for our staff.

tens of thousands of pink-footed geese and whooper swans that migrate to the centre, and the success of the trial means that a further 200 diverters are now to be installed, while the results are being shared with other power operators across the country.

‘Through this innovative partnership with Electricity North West we have secured both the safety of the swans and geese, as well as ensuring the local community is not affected by power cuts,’ says Martin Mere Centre Manager Nick Brooks.

‘Our mission is to support the future of the Earth and humanity by contributing products that help the abundant and stable production of food, help supply and restore reliable water and help create comfortable living environments,’ says Dave Roberts, Kubota UK’s Managing Director. ‘It is essential that we help to preserve our planet and, with all of the above in mind, it is exciting to work in partnership with WWT to meet these goals.’

EMC, the leading IT solutions company, is a new corporate supporter of WWT, and has provided over £30,000 to help us provide technology for school children attending our learning sessions across our centres – particularly our new Migration, Exploring Conservation and Listening for Wetlands sessions. The equipment includes such items as data loggers, microphones and hydrophones to enable children to connect with the magic of the natural world.

The company is also offering its expertise to support other WWT technology projects.

EMC’s decision to partner with WWT fits with its core environmental sustainability objectives, and its staff will also benefit from the corporate volunteering opportunities that are offered at all WWT Wetland Centres.

Pupil using a parabolic reflector

Crossword (page 15): Across: 5. Barrie 7. Nicola 9. Whoa 10. Dopamine 11. Gliding 13. Tufty 15. Wader 16. Sailing 18. Redshank 19. Gull 21. Fledge 22. Annuls Down: 1. Bath 2. Feeding 3. Snipe 4. Plankton 6. Readdressed 8. Camouflaging 12. Llanelli 14. Markham 17. Raven 20. Lyle Kids’ zone (page 46): The cormorant is the odd one out. It is not displaying, but standing in its classic ‘wing-drying’ pose.

Puzzle answers

10

Waterlife

10 Newsv2.indd 10

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:57

011_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 11

09/12/2014 11:32

WWT NEWS

the perfect winter escape

Help wetlands while discovering cosy cottages and rustic farmhouses in the UK, and beautiful snow-dusted retreats overseas. With more than 13,000 properties to choose from (many pet-friendly) you are sure to find your dream winter escape. When you book via cottages-4you.co.uk/wwp or call 0845 268 9311, 10% of the cost will be donated to WWT.

They made it!

October came and went, and still the wait for the first Bewick’s swans at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

Finally, on 6 November, they started to arrive, with Nurton and Nusa, who have spent the past five winters at the reserve, the first to touch down with their cygnets.

‘It was no coincidence that their arrival coincided with a change from the mild temperatures and southwesterly head winds that had dominated in previous weeks,’ says WWT swan expert Julia Newth.

‘We were excited to see that the first arrivals are a family,

because the swans desperately need more cygnets to bolster the dwindling population.’

Their arrival came just a week after WWT released new figures that show that more than a third of Bewick’s swans that winter in Europe have disappeared since 1995, when the overall population peaked at 29,000.

A further census will be taking place this winter.

Meanwhile, you can follow our work towards arresting the decline of these amazing birds by visiting our dedicated Swan Hub. All you have to do is visit wwt.org.uk/swans.

POETRY CORNER This issue’s poem comes from Brian Trussler of Worcester, who writes: ‘I enclose the following in praise of the Bewick’s swans, in particular Wooton, my sponsored swan.’ Brian echoes all our feelings when we see these wonderful birds in flight.

If you’d like to submit a poem to this section of the magazine, simply send it to the address on page 14.

To see their families gathered here, Is something that we hold dear.

We sit and watch in sheer delight, Then leave them to a peaceful night.

6 November is the latest Bewick’s arrival date since 1969.

12

Waterlife

12 Newsv2.indd 12

Come the morn, as is their need, To the Dumbles to roost and feed.

But they return to the Rushy Pen, Where we can watch them once again.

Shutterstock; James Lees

The swans fly in to our delight, Their plumage an angelic white.

A long and arduous trip they’ve made, And we look on and are amazed.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

12/12/2014 15:16

DON’T buy a Hearing Aid until you’ve read this ESSENTIAL FREE Guide!

WAS £5.99 NOW FREE INSIDE: Everything you need to know about hearing aids.

I

n the last ten years, new technology has created a maze of choices in the selection of hearing aids.

With more people than ever using hearing aids, it is essential that you have a reference to what hearing aids are about. There is far more to it than buying a pair of glasses.

The introduction of digital chip techniques has brought more features than existed under the old days of analogue hearing aids.

The options that come with a hearing aid – circuit configurations, channels, feedback cancellations

and more – can be puzzling to say the least.

The Consumers Guide To Hearing Aids is an A4 colour guide with 32 thorough pages which tell you everything you need to know about hearing aids.

NEW

2015 EDITION

It is the A-Z of Hearing Aids and can help you select the specific make and model which is best suited for your hearing loss..It explains what you spend your money on and can save your hardearned cash before you buy a hearing aid. It gives you comparisons of hearing aids by brand, circuit option and model. This offer is only available to those who have a genuine to receive it by post fill in & send the hearing problem and is coupon below or therefore limited to one request details at copy per household.

FREEPHONE 0800 074 3960

QUOTE A696DCG Lines open 8am-8pm Weekdays. 10am-4pm Weekends.

www.dhais.co.uk

Compare the market...

Explains if you need a hearing aid and what it can do for you.

24 Worldwide Brands.

Whether you need one or two hearing aids.

Digital Hearing Aid Technology explained.

Entry and Basic Level Digital Hearing Aids.

Advanced Digital Hearing Aids.

Premium Digital Hearing Aids.

Has an excellent section on common questions and answers.

Why Open Ear Hearing Aids are satisfying customers.

Definitions of Hearing Aid Terms.

What is DirectionalMicrophone Hearing Aid Technology.

and much, much more.

POST TO: Digital Hearing Aids Information Service (A696DCG) FREEPOST LON15651, London SE1 1BS

013_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 13

Please send me my FREE Consumers Guide

PLEASE COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS MARKED

IN BLOCK CAPITALS.

MR/MRS/MISS ADDRESS

POSTCODE

D.O.B D D M M Y Y

TELEPHONE

MOBILE EMAIL

Digital Hearing Aid Information Service (A696DCG) FREEPOST LON15651, London SE1 1BS

15/12/2014 17:38

wigeon post

tell us what you think!

Send your letters on all things WWT or Waterlife to Wigeon Post, WWT, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, or email waterlife@wwt.org.uk Let us know your memories of Peter and Philippa Scott, and we’ll publish the best for WWT’s 70th anniversary

Jeff Knott, WWT Head of Conservation Policy, replies: Many thanks for getting in touch. In this issue of Waterlife, you will find our wetland manifesto (see page 29), in advance of the general election next year. As well as sending this to every candidate, we are asking readers to write to candidates in their constituency. Our conservation team will also be meeting with key figures in each party to present the manifesto.

Dear Waterlife In issue 190, you ran an article in which you mentioned that WWT Consulting returns all its profits to WWT. I was wondering whether you could tell me how much that has amounted to in the quarter century since WWT Consulting was launched?

Zoe Walker, London

Dear Waterlife I imagine that Bill Oddie’s article in the October/December 2014 issue about his call from Peter Scott has stirred many memories in others, like myself, who had a similar experience. I wonder if there could be the makings of an interesting article here.

Mike Welch, via email Editor replies: It’s interesting that you should suggest that, Mike. WWT will be celebrating its 70th anniversary next year, and we’re planning a piece very much along the lines of what you suggest.

Peter’s work in those first decades of WWT’s existence inspired many people to follow their own paths, whether or not they were with WWT themselves. Some we know about, of course, but many we don’t. We’re therefore asking readers

14

Waterlife

who, at some stage in their lives, were inspired by the work of WWT, whether during Peter’s time or afterwards, to tell us how that inspiration has informed their own lives. What have you done that you might never have thought to do had it not been for WWT? Do let us know, using the address above, and next year we’ll publish as many of your stories and anecdotes as we can.

Dear Waterlife From time to time, Waterlife and WWT regret the lack of political commitment to the environment and conservation.

With a general election coming up this year, could you ask each of the main parties to provide a short, 250-word statement saying what their policies offer WWT members?

Paul Seligman, Cardiff

Maasai Mara, Kenya

WWT Consulting Associate Director Matthew Simpson replies: Thanks to our work across the globe, from Colombo to Kenya to Bristol, we have been able to donate more than £1.8 million in the last 25 years. It shows the important dual purpose of WWT Consulting: not only are we able to provide significant help to our parent charity, we are, in the process, improving habitats and helping connect people with nature around the world.

WWT Consulting’s strength lies in WWT’s 70 years of experience of working with wetlands, which creates a unique mix.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

14-15 Wigeon post.indd 14

12/12/2014 15:14

LETTERS Dear Waterlife I thoroughly enjoyed the article about volunteering in the recent issue of Waterlife. I wanted to say thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work and commitment. Their contribution to WWT is immeasurable.

Margaret Stewart, Gloucestershire Editor replies: We certainly share your sentiment. With the vast range of activities they support and their dedication, our volunteers really are a vital part of WWT. We’d like to join you in thanking them for everything they do.

W W T AN D YO U

‘It’s very stimulating working at Martin Mere. Everyone there enjoys their work, and there’s a real sense of like-minded companionship’

Quality time heart of Volunteers are part of the WWT’s centres, but what makes them tick? Here, we talk to a sample dozen to find out

We all know the essential

16

Waterlife

it, as it gives volunteers. I really enjoy people. me the chance to work with place to Martin Mere’s such a great it so well make friends, too: I know I was about as I’ve been visiting since five or six years old.’

meaning of

services ‘volunteering’: to provide may be how without being paid. That but it’s described in the dictionary, How what’s the human definition? to be part about ‘to provide services close to of a community,’ or ‘to be or nature,’ or ‘to help my career’, even ‘to keep busy’? dozens Ask any of the dozens upon centres of volunteers at WWT wetland get dozens across the country and you’ll only natural of different answers. That’s all have – we’re all different, and we things – and our own reasons for doing to do with there’s such a range of things for. catered is everyone that WWT Take Amy O’Toole, for example. biology In 2010, she was studying for at university and was looking holidays, something to fill her summer Mere. so plumped for a role at Martin in job a Once she graduated, she got a problem. a research lab, but there was ‘but I ‘It was good work,’ she says, had hated being indoors. I’ve always I realised that an interest in wildlife, but it. I just I needed to be outside to enjoy a lab.’ A year couldn’t stay cooped up in dog-walking ago, Amy started her own with business, but she still volunteers ‘I’m WWT at least twice a month. says, ‘which a weekend supervisor,’ she other means I help to organise the

Seb Ashton also started

Seb Ashton

‘I think that if you want to develop a career in ecological education or communication, you need as broad a range of experience as you can get, to help you stand out’

his working life

and in a research lab having graduated, the great also found himself missing he says, outdoors. ‘I love the science,’ from ‘but I get much more pleasure help open using the scientific ideal to from people’s eyes than by analysing the behind a computer.’ Seb joined and education team at Slimbridge, wildlife has also worked with the the chance health team, which gave him for health to catch and handle birds helped checks (‘that was brilliant!’), even appeared with moth-trapping, and Weekly on Slimbridge’s online Wildlife to video. ‘I think that if you want education develop a career in ecological as broad or communication, you need can get, a range of experience as you says. Seb has to help you stand out,’ he National with spent time volunteering is soon Trust activity centres and at a nature off to New Zealand to work time at reserve, but he’s loved his place, and Slimbridge. ‘It’s a really great wildlife and I’ve learnt so much about Seb’s about interacting with people.’

enthusiasm shines through, and it would be very surprising if Slimbridge hasn’t been part of the shaping of a Brian Cox of the future.

Not everyone looks to volunteering as a stepping stone to a future career.

After Bett Leech lost her husband, her daughter volunteered her at Martin Mere. ‘I wasn’t sure at first,’ says Bett, ‘but she was absolutely right.’ Bett will be 88 years old next birthday, and you’ll be able to find her at the information desk. She’s also worked in education, in the shop, handled typing and devised craft-makin g, and helped the centre with publicity.

‘When I began, I didn’t really interest in wildlife. Having have an grown up on a farm, hens and turkeys represented bird life to me. Now, I love encouraging birds into my garden.

‘It’s very stimulating working at Martin Mere,’ she continues.

‘Everyone there enjoys their work, and there’s a real sense of like-minded companionship.’

Emma Gibson was

also volunteered by

someone else during a difficult time.

‘I was training as a nursery nurse when I was hit with illness, which meant I had to take a year out,’ she recalls. ‘Mum suggested I volunteer at Martin Mere, and I love it. I’m a weekend supervisor, setting up activities in education, such as bug hunts, crafts, pond dipping and so on, and helping with school trips. ‘I enjoy working with children,’ she says. ‘They get so excited about everything. That age between two and four – they’re so open to new ideas and experiences.

I’m hoping to get a job soon as a nursery nurse, but even when I do, I’ll still volunteer with Martin Mere. Everyone’s so friendly; it’s like a community.’

Tim Kennedy agrees.

‘Martin Mere is such a friendly environmen t. I used to visit when I was a child, and I appreciate the place even more now. I think it’s important that people explore as much of the site as they can, particularly if they’ve come a long way, so I encourage them to do so, and it’s very satisfying to see how interested they become.’

Tim is a busy man: in addition to his love of Manchester United, he’s also an assistant Scout leader, helping youngsters with activities and to gain their firelighting and knot-tying badges.

‘As a small boy, I was a Beaver myself, and now I’m finding out about real

Amy O’Toole

Emma Gibson Inset: Tim Kennedy

Diane Rollin

changing career

After a successful career in export marketing, Diane Rollin felt that the time was right for a change. Wildlife had always been an interest of hers, and so she bit the bullet and started a foundation degree in Ecology and Conservation Management.

‘I’ve done big cat research in Namibia, birdwatchin g ecotourism in Ecuador, and I wanted to devote more time to my passion,’ she says. She’s certainly doing that.

Along with her studies, she’s helping to support herself by selling plants and conducting bat surveys, she’s a volunteer ranger with Lancashire county council, and she’s spending every Wednesday fulfilling a host of roles at Martin Mere. ‘I was able to get an opportunity to work with the reserve team, which involves checking the cattle, looking after the pumps in the reedbed system, monitoring swans and geese, checking for nests during the breeding season and much more. I love it. Last year, I helped with the whooper swan catch – it was amazing, and I was on a high for ages.

‘The hands-on work is extremely constructiv e for my course. I was supposed to do 120 hours in my first year as part of my coursework , but I’ve already gone well beyond that. I’m aiming to become an ecologist and if, once I’ve qualified, a position comes up at WWT, that would be great. A change in career really is possible if you put your mind to it.’

2014 OCTOBER/DECE MBER 16-23 Volunteers.indd

19

08/09/2014 12:09

crossword WWT member Tim Bonsor has included clues relating to the life of WWT founder Sir Peter Scott in our crossword this issue; the answers are on page 10.

Across 5 Surname of famous Scottish writer who was Sir Peter Scott’s godfather. (6) 7 Name of Peter’s eldest daughter. (6) 9 Say this to a horse to stop it. (4) 10 Neurotransmitter associated with learning. (8) 11 Peter was British champion in this sport in 1963. (7)

13 Affectionate name for a common yelloweyed diving duck. (5) 15 18 across is one. (5) 16 Peter won a bronze medal at the 1936 Olympics in this sport. (7) 18 Whereas the common one dabbles at the water edge, the spotted one likes deeper water. (8) 19 This bird used to be called a ‘mew’. (4) 21 To grow feathers. (6).

22 Makes invalid. (6)

Down 1 This university awarded Peter an honorary BSc in 1979. (4) 2 What are ducks doing when they dabble or dive? (7) 3 This bird seeks food with a ‘sewingmachine’ action. (5) 4 Usually microscopic food source found in oceans, seas, lakes and ponds. (8) 6 Again turned one’s attention (to a subject). (11) 8 Peter received the MBE for improving naval defences through this technique. (12) 12 Location of the National Wetland Centre Wales. (8) 14 Peter’s middle name. (7) 17 Bird which was subject of a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. (5) 20 One of two hides at Welney with ramps and lower access windows. (4)

spotting skills Last issue’s ID competition proved the most popular so far. Could it have had anything to do with the popularity of the bird itself? We asked you to identify a winter visitor from a small detail; that detail being the red, waxy appearance of some of the bird’s feather-tips in the wing. Yes, it was a waxwing, and the first name drawn out the hat after the closing date was Jon Travis. Congratulations.

This issue, we have another winter visitor for you. This time, we’ve zoomed in on the bird’s head. Which species is it, and which gender? Send your answer to the address opposite. The first correct identification drawn out of the hat after the closing date of 28 February will win a copy of Watching Waterbirds.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

14-15 Wigeon post.indd 15

Waterlife

15

12/12/2014 15:27

gh

P R I VAT E L I F E

hatch tags The breeding failure of the Greenland white-fronted goose is puzzling, but advances in birdtagging technology, says Geoff Hilton, may help us find answers 16

Waterlife

The Greenland white-fronted goose, as its name suggests, breeds in Greenland, but every autumn it flies south to spend the colder months in the relatively mild climates of Britain and Ireland. Every year, we count them – and the news is not good. In the 1990s, we welcomed more than 35,000 Greenland whitefronted geese to our shores. Within just 15 years, that number has plummeted by 40% to just 21,000.

Finding out why that might be presents quite a challenge. Greenland white-fronted geese like to breed in fairly inaccessible parts of west Greenland, so any attempt to study them on the ground is not just expensive, but extremely difficult. And their migratory treks across the great ice cap of Greenland are impossible to track with the human eye. What we do know is that the number of goslings that make it back to the British Isles is low and declining. It’s an unsustainable trend.

Perhaps predator numbers have increased, and the eggs or the goslings are falling prey. Could changing weather patterns have something to do with the low breeding success? Or perhaps the goslings are struggling with the migration? A pioneering research

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

16-17 GWF Goosev2.indd 16

09/12/2014 16:22

front lines • The subspecies is known for its long parental bonds. Young birds have been recorded as staying with their parents, and therefore not breeding, for up to nine years.

• In 2010, the Greenland white-fronted goose became one of the first subspecies to be Red Listed in the UK’s Birds of Conservation Concern report.

GREENLAND

SUMMER AREAS

SPRING & AUTUMN STAGING AREAS

■ Migratory range ■ Breeding range ■ Wintering range

Above: Fitting tags on Greenland white-fronted geese; houses in Kulusuk, south-east Greenland

WINTERING GROUNDS

We’re also working on other fronts. Ten years ago, it was legal to shoot the birds in Iceland but, with encouragement from WWT, that country sensibly introduced a ban in 2006, saving approximately 3,000 birds each year. We’re now turning our attention to the two main wintering sites in the British Isles – Islay in the Hebrides off the Scottish west coast, and Wexford in Ireland. Both sites seem to provide excellent habitat but, although the Wexford population remains stable, Islay numbers have been falling rapidly in recent years. We’re working with Scottish Natural Heritage on Islay to find out more, and we’ll report further on this project in a future issue.

What is certain is that the breeding rate of the goose is not high enough to sustain the bird’s future. We have to do everything we can to find out why, and reverse that trend.

Geoff Hilton is WWT’s Head of Species Research. This project is implemented and supported by WWT, the Universities of Exeter and Aarhus, with invaluable help from the Greenland White-fronted Goose Study and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of Ireland.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

16-17 GWF Goosev2.indd 17

Waterlife

Shutterstock

project by PhD student Mitch Weegman, supported by WWT, is attempting to find out.

Over the last few winters, we have fitted GPS (Global Positioning System) tags to 15 adult male geese. The GPS element records the exact position of each goose once a day, but these tags also have accelerometers built into them, which trace movement in three dimensions and record them every six minutes for a full year. This means that we don’t just know where the geese are, but we can monitor their behaviour – whether they’re feeding, resting or flying. There’s a further advantage: the data can also tell us how much energy the birds are expending.

This information will be invaluable. It will show us, very precisely, how all the birds behave, day by day, throughout the year. We will therefore be able to determine whether there were any behavioural changes between the birds that breed, and those that don’t, and when those changes occurred. This will give us clues: if the breeders could be said to show ‘model’ breeding behaviour, then any divergence from that behaviour could indicate the exact point at which the non-breeders gave up or failed in their attempt.

ICELAND

17

09/12/2014 16:22

Photo competition

WINNER

TOMMY EVANS

Kingfisher Juggling James Lees says: ‘The timing is excellent. The expression on the fish’s face is particularly good: he looks as if he’s hoping he might be dropped at the last second!’

Chief judge James Lees, reserve warden at WWT Slimbridge

Leica cameras are meticulously manufactured from only the finest materials to ensure absolute reliability and enduring value

picture perfect The winner of the 2014 Waterlife Summer Digital Photo Competition has now been chosen, so feast your eyes on the best of the best

When we launched our brand new photo competition back at the beginning of summer, we expected a good response. We underestimated our readership: you provided a great response! We received hundreds upon hundreds of entries, and there were many wonderful images that didn’t even make the shortlist, so impressive was the overall quality. Having whittled the total down to eight, we turned to our chief judge, James Lees, who made the final choice, and here it is: this fine action shot of a kingfisher by Tommy Evans.

James, of course, is known to many of you not just as reserve warden at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, but as the host of many a popular photography course around the reserve. ‘The kingfisher image was executed to perfection and screams “wetland”,’ he says.

18

Waterlife

‘I was blown away by the entrants and struggled to pick a favourite. The entries were a nice mix, with good variations of different wetland habitats and wildlife – not just ducks! Photographically, there were lots of different styles, making it a real pleasure to judge.’

So, congratulations to Tommy for his fine portrait of the kingfisher, for which he wins this magnificent Leica X2 (above), worth £1,750. Keep an eye on your copies of Waterlife this year: we’re already planning the next competition.

And in the meantime, to keep your hand in, don’t forget to check the events section of this issue and keep an eye on the ‘visit’ pages of the website for a wide range of photographic courses and opportunities lined up at WWT centres across the country.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

18-23 Photo compv2.indd 18

09/12/2014 16:23

Runner-up

ANDREW SLACK Reflection James Lees says: ‘This photo of a wren in a hide also stood out, the black and white style really enhancing the image.’

Runner-up (inset)

DAVID DYSON Ruddy Darter James Lees says: ‘This is a superb macro photograph. It delivers a huge amount of detail from an interesting angle.’

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

18-23 Photo compv2.indd 19

Waterlife

19

09/12/2014 16:25

They helped me get a quick cancer diagnosis Kevin – benenden health member View Kevin’s story at benenden.co.uk/waterlife

No long waits, no medical exclusions Whenever you need health advice, quick diagnosis or treatment, you shouldn’t have to wait or pay a high premium – whatever your age or medical history.

No contract, no excess to pay Simply join around 900,000 individuals ◊ who pay £8.19 a month into the benenden health membership pot to help you when you need it most... and others when you don’t. It’s all together a better way.

Join the UK’s most trusted healthcare provider for a wide range of discretionary healthcare services: 24/7 GP advice line Quick diagnosis and treatment Health advice, counselling and physiotherapy No upper age limits – everyone pays the same Add family and friends for ◊ just £8.19 a month each

Join us today

£8.19

◊

a month

£15 worth of M&S vouchers when you join PLUS a £10 voucher for every person you add†

Call free on

0800 414 8265*

quoting: WATERLIFE or visit

www.benenden.co.uk/waterlife

†Offer ends 27th February 2015 (M&S vouchers). Terms and conditions apply, for details please visit www.benenden.co.uk/ waterlife or telephone us on 0800 414 8265. ◊From 1st April 2015 payments will increase to £8.45 per person, per month. *Calls to 0800 numbers are free from BT landlines however charges may apply from other providers and mobile phones. Calls may be recorded for our mutual security and training purposes. Lines are open 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited is an incorporated friendly society, registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1992, registered number 480F. The Society’s contractual business (the provision of tuberculosis benefit) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

The remainder of the Society’s business is undertaken on a discretionary basis. The Society is subject to Prudential Regulation Authority requirements for prudential management.

AD/WATERLIFE/BEN007/01.15

020_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 20 Waterlife-Press-Ad_Q4_V2_AW.indd 1

09/12/2014 17:22 11:37 28/11/2014

Photo competition Runner-up (right)

CHRISTOPHER ALGAR Migrant Hawker in Flight James Lees says: ‘Dragonflies are hard to photograph at the best of times. But being able to capture one in flight is outstanding.’

Runner-up (left)

STEPHANIE ACTON Mandarin Duck James Lees says: ‘This is a nicely composed image with the mandarin looking out into open space. The reflection works well with the dark background.’

Runner-up

MARK HUGHES Lapwing Under Attack James Lees says: ‘I often watch jackdaws chasing waders around the reserve.

This shot captures this funny behaviour perfectly.’

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

18-23 Photo compv2.indd 21

Waterlife

21

09/12/2014 16:26

A gift to make your loved one tickled pink this Valentine’s By adopting a flamingo you will help to save wetland wildlife for generations to come

From just ÂŁ3 a month your Valentine will receive their very own cuddly flamingo, a factbook telling them all about their pink pal and a free ticket to visit a WWT Wetland Centre of their choice.

Adopt a flamingo today at wwt.org.uk/flamingo or call 01453 891195 22 Adoption house ad.indd 1

09/12/2014 16:28

Photo competition

Runner-up

LIZ GENT Reed Bunting James Lees says: ‘This is a well-composed shot, helped by a nicely diffused background.’

Runner-up (inset)

ENDAF AMOS Dark Bush Cricket James Lees says: ‘I love the creepy-crawlies and they are often overlooked.

It’s nice to see a lovely photo of this little critter.’

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

18-23 Photo compv2.indd 23

Waterlife

23

09/12/2014 16:27

THE GALLERY

space Watch this

This spring, the new Steart Marshes reserve will be officially opened.

TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff has had a sneak peek

Once more unto the breach: the water flows in at Steart

24

Waterlife

24-27 Steart.indd 24

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:28

whether I’d like to be an ambassador for the work at Steart, I thought it best to be honest. I was aware of the peninsula, I said, jutting out as it does into the Bristol Channel, but I’d never been there. In that case, they assured me, I had a treat in store. They were right.

Before my visit, I decided to check up on the history and geography of Steart.

People have been attempting to stabilise the dynamic environment of the peninsula since the Roman times, building embankments to augment the dunes that are formed naturally by the tides. Today, however, we’re heading into a new period of rising sea levels, and the internationally important Severn Estuary is predicted to rise by one metre in the next century, which would mean we’d lose an area of saltmarsh the size of 5,000 football pitches.

The first thought one has, therefore, is: why not just build higher embankments? There’s a very good answer to that: the higher the water levels reach, the more dangerous they become. Keep raising the banks against them, and you’re steadily creating an

Miranda Krestovnikoff

area of land that is dropping below sea level. The tidal power of those higher water levels becomes stronger and stronger, and eventually Steart’s man-made embankments won’t stand a chance against them. The result would be devastation to the community and managed landscape.

As was reported last issue, a much better approach has been found. By creating a breach in the existing sea defences, an area of land and water can be created that can absorb the tides, rather than resist them. This not only provides long-term security for the villagers of Steart, but creates a new saltmarsh habitat, excellent for wildlife.

Before the breach, I paid my first visit to Steart. I was taken aback. The land is flat and when you look out across the 300 hectares or so that are being opened up to the sea, it looks absolutely vast. As I stood there and took in the landscape, it was actually quite hard to get my head around what it would look like if it was flooded. I was blown away by the sheer scale and ambition of the project.

What also impressed me was the high level of cooperation that is bringing

What impressed me was the high level of cooperation that is bringing this transformation to pass

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

24-27 Steart.indd 25

WWT; Sam Gracey

When WWT first contacted me to ask

Waterlife

25

12/12/2014 15:17

THE GALLERY

Preparing for the breach

Installation of the hide

this transformation to pass. WWT and the Environment Agency, the two partners involved in the project, have been working very closely with the local community through every step of the process. It’s one thing to champion landscape change from the outside; it’s another to champion it from within, and I got a really positive vibe about the way that the people of Steart are supporting the concept. Robin Prowse has lived in his house on Steart for 30 years, and he told me that all the villagers have been involved in the project all the way through. ‘We’ve made many suggestions along the way,’ he told me, ‘and they’ve all been taken into account. There was a danger before that, if the old sea defences gave way, I’d be flooded and my house would be worth nothing. Now, I’m feeling a lot more secure.’

‘In addition, I now have a much larger nature reserve to enjoy,’ he added.

‘When I first arrived here, there were 300 white-fronted geese feeding out in the field in front of the house. There were 10,000 wigeon down on the marsh.

But the coastline has changed, the habitat has changed, bird numbers have changed, and we’ve lost a certain amount of the marsh. Under this new scheme, that’s now being replaced, and I’m looking forward to seeing an increase in bird numbers, and an opportunity for people to enjoy it.

People will want to come and visit it, and we’re proud to show off what we’ve got here. I’m feeling very positive about the future of Steart.’

Benefits for all

Robin encapsulates what, to my mind, is the great strength of the scheme: it will benefit people and wildlife alike. Steart Marshes is a fine balance between management and letting nature take its course. It protects the villagers from flooding, while harbouring a rich variety of wildlife. It’s also a productive landscape that supports livestock and shelters the fry of important commercial fish stocks. As I have seen for myself, Steart is an awe-inspiring place, where people feel part of nature.

And now that process is under way.

In September, the breach safely took place, allowing the tides to sweep across 300 cordoned-off hectares of low-lying land for the first time in centuries.

Water flowing into a lagoon

Resting dunlin

26

Waterlife

24-27 Steart.indd 26

‘There was a danger that, if the old sea defences gave way, I’d be flooded and my house would be worth nothing. Now, I’m feeling a lot more secure’ I don’t have to try to imagine what that landscape looks like under water any more: I can now see it for myself.

For me, Steart Marshes is an example of what WWT does best: bringing wildlife and people together for the benefit of both. If such a beneficial approach can be taken here, then surely similar processes could be rolled out across other landscapes to restore saltmarsh habitat while providing added security to local communities.

I look forward to going back to Steart time and again to watch the new reserve as it progresses, and to take my children to see this fabulous landscape and count the bird numbers as they increase.

Watch this space. It’ll be great.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:29

to fol steart low the sto wwt.o ry, visit rg.u steart. k/

The natural channels of Steart

A flock of wigeon takes off

• Steart Marshes is a space for everyone. It includes paths for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, as well as access for wheelchair users.

• The Steart Marshes reserve is being developed in partnership with the Environment Agency. Generous funding has also been received from Viridor Credits Environmental Company through the Landfill Communities Fund and from The Montague Thompson Coon Charitable Trust.

• You can keep up to date with all the latest bird numbers and sightings at Steart Marshes, such as the pallid harrier seen there late last year, and other news, at twitter.com/WWTSteart.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

24-27 Steart.indd 27

Waterlife

NaturePL, WWT; © Richard Taylor-Jones; © JS Lees

Steart points

27

09/12/2014 16:30

What will your gift be?

People leave many memories to future generations thanks to a gift in their will. Whether big or small, such a gift ensures that what you felt most passionately about during your lifetime continues into the future.

Over the years, gifts left to WWT by kind people in their wills have helped create and protect reserves, save species from extinction, and develop

learning programmes that have inspired generations of nature lovers. This is valuable work that we will continue for many generations to come.

We invite you to receive your free My forever gift booklet, which features stunning photographs of wetland wildlife and landscapes, and inspiring stories about what has been achieved through your support

and those who kindly remembered WWT in their wills.

For your free copy of My forever gift, please complete the request form below and send it to the freepost address. Alternatively, contact our Legacy Manager, David Salmon, on 01453 891150 or by email at david.salmon@wwt.org.uk.

You can also visit wwt.org.uk/legacies.

PLEASE SEND ME WWT’S FREE MY FOREVER GIFT BOOKLET Your name Address Postcode Email

Tel number

James Lees

Return to: David Salmon, WWT, Freepost RTKU UJUZ ZHZX, Bowditch, Slimbridge, Gloucester GL2 7BT (no stamp needed) Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is a registered charity in England & Wales, no. 1030884 and Scotland, no. SC039410

28 Legacy house ad.indd 16

09/12/2014 16:30

W W T AN D YO U

How YOU can help win the next election for wetlands

Shutterstock

WWT is encouraging politicians of all hues to push wetlands to the forefront of the next election‌ and you, says Jeff Knott, can help us make a real difference

29

29-33 Manifesto.indd 29

09/12/2014 16:31

Above, left to right: green roof covered with sedum plants; pond dipping; a welly message; channelling rainwater

At WWT, we have played a role in many changes for the better for wetlands and the wildlife they support 30

Waterlife

29-33 Manifesto.indd 30

day. We need to keep talking to them, and keep ensuring that the issues we feel passionate about remain high on the agenda. Politics is there day in, day out, and the more we all get involved in it, the better it will be.

At WWT, we put this idea into action. By maintaining dialogue with politicians, supporting them with valuable information garnered by our expert scientists and researchers, and lobbying, we support politicians in making positive changes for the better for wetlands and wildlife (see page 33). There’s still a vast amount to do – and this is where you come in.

Add your voice

Shutterstock; Martyn Poynor; WWT

For anyone who believes in the representative ideals of politics, the statistics from recent general elections make rather depressing reading. In the second half of the 20th century, the turnout was consistently higher than 70%, even topping 80% in the early 1950s, but in 2001 it plummeted to under 60%. Even in the last election, fewer than two-thirds of those eligible to vote made their mark. This all suggests that, in recent years, the people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have become disengaged from politics.

Then, last year, the Scottish independence referendum took place. An astonishing 84.6% stepped forward to vote – the highest turnout for an election or referendum in the UK since World War I. It showed that, far from being disengaged, people were just as involved in political issues as ever, as long as those issues tapped into their passions.

Passion is at the root of politics, just as it should be.

Whatever our beliefs are in life, as individuals we hold them passionately, and we want those who represent us at the national level to feel the same way. That, after all, is why we elect them in the first place.

But the responsibilities of election aren’t a one-way street. We only get to vote in a general election once every five years, but our MPs represent us every single

In advance of the upcoming general election this May, WWT has put together a Wetland Manifesto (opposite), and sent it out to every single candidate for the main parties in every single constituency across the UK. This manifesto represents the key issues that each candidate, no matter their political persuasion, needs to take to heart.

It’s part of our continuing dialogue with politicians, and you can add your own weight to it. Write to your candidates, or talk to them when they knock on your door, to tell them how you feel about the points in our manifesto. Ask them what, should they be elected to government, they will do. Encourage them to look deeper into the issues. In short, help them to understand that good water management is essential to a successful and healthy life for us all in this country.

As you can see, the Wetland Manifesto has been printed here so that you can cut it out. You could send it

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:32

W W T AN D YO U

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Wetland Manifesto

People feel connected to wetlands ■ ■

Everyone has easy access to wetlands, wherever they live, in urban and rural areas, so we can all enjoy these special places Outdoor learning about and in wetlands is available for all children, and is embedded in the National Curriculum

Our water is wisely managed ■ ■

Work with nature to alleviate flooding and drought, so that nature works for us Wide implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to benefit people and wildlife

Our wetlands are unpolluted ■ ■

Support landowners to install treatment wetlands to reduce pollution using natural processes Work together to reduce pollution and ensure polluters are held responsible for their actions

Reduce avoidable harm to our wetland wildlife ■ ■

Reduce deaths of waterbirds caused by humankind including avoidable disturbance, hitting power lines, lead poisoning and illegal killing Work with other rural employers to ensure the interests and health of wildlife are properly balanced and considered as we build a rural economy

The impact of invasive non-native species is reduced ■ ■

Tackle invasive species like freshwater plants that choke native plants of oxygen, light and nutrients, and promote native species as alternatives Ensure full implementation of the EU Regulation on invasive non-native species

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) registered charity in England & Wales, Nº. 1030884 and Scotland, Nº. SC039410

Send this to your MP (Find your local MP’s postal and email address at findyourmp.parliament.uk) I, the undersigned, your constituent, think that this manifesto is important First name

Last name

Post code

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

29-33 Manifesto.indd 31

Waterlife

31

09/12/2014 16:32

Photo: Burkhard Stemann

Get closer to nature Award-winning Páramo uses Nikwax Analogy® fabrics that mimic mammal fur to keep out the weather and shift perspiration. The result is a durable waterproof that keeps you warmer and drier than conventional waterproofs. Soft, supple and quiet, Páramo ensures easy, rustlefree movement and day-long comfort perfect for when you want to get closer to nature.

Designed in partnership with nature professionals around the world, Páramo offers genuine benefits to all outdoor enthusiasts.

“As a wildlife photographer, I need to rely on my gear, whether it’s camera equipment or clothing. Whether I’m working in the heat guiding wildlife safaris or at much lower temperatures in the polar regions, my Páramo kit always does the job! ” Sue Flood, wildlife photographer (featured above) Website: sueflood.com

Facebook: Sue Flood Photography

To view the Naturally Páramo range visit: www.paramo.co.uk/waterlife

032_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 32

Men’s & Ladies’ Halcon Jacket £330 An outstanding waterproof jacket with 9 well-sited pockets.

Ideal for those who carry extra equipment.

09/12/2014 11:38

W W T AN D YO U with your letter to your candidate, or put it on your fridge door and email them instead. If you’d prefer not to cut up your magazine, you can also download and print it out from wwt.org.uk/wetlandmanifesto.

Or you can simply pick one or two points that you particularly feel passionate about, and emphasise those. The important thing is that all of us get in touch with our politicians in advance of the election and say: ‘I, as your constituent, think that this is important.’

And it truly is. Water is at the heart of life, but we have to manage it well, and the flooding across many parts of the country this time last year was an indication of the work that still lies ahead. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) create ways of managing surface water without overloading drainage systems, providing lovely areas for people and essential habitats for nature into the bargain. SuDS has already been shown to work across the sites where WWT and our partners have rolled it out. Yet we can’t achieve better nationwide water management via this site-by-site approach alone: we need our politicians to champion the principles behind SuDS and drive forward their use across the country, to benefit people and wildlife alike.

Our waters need to be as clean as possible. Water pollution is still a threat to wildlife in the UK, and we need to develop natural treatments to reduce these effects. This is, of course, assuming that the waterbodies themselves still exist. Wetlands have been reduced by up to 90% in England alone in the last two centuries, depriving wildlife of their natural habitats and people of the opportunity to experience these magical places. Again, the right policies need to be adopted at a national level in order not just to arrest the decline, but actively restore these essential environments.

Wetland environments have a positive effect upon our psychological wellbeing, too. For many of us, the childhood pleasures of pond dipping or raft-building or simply messing about in water are key memories, and the natural joys of a river, pond or lake stay with us through our adult lives. I vividly remember being taken

Above: flooding was a worrying feature of last winter Below: Azolla water fern

to feed the nenes at Slimbridge as a child. I worry that if we don’t act now, there won’t be many wetlands left for me to take my child to in a few years. A world without easily accessible waterlands is bleak to imagine.

Wetlands are important and, this election, we want to shout out that message as loudly as we can. With your voice, we can be even louder. Encourage your family and friends to write or email on behalf of waterbodies and their wildlife, too, and the movement for stronger representation for wetlands at the national level will grow even greater.

Whatever beliefs and passions lie close to your heart, a healthy nation will help you achieve them, and a truly healthy nation can only exist when there’s a healthy approach to its water. This election, help us to make sure that wetlands, the bedrock of our lives, are high on the political agenda.

This May, help us to win the election for wetlands.

Jeff Knott is WWT’s Head of Conservation Policy.

For more, please visit wwt.org.uk/wetlandmanifesto.

the power of politics

Shutterstock

There are many ways in which WWT has successfully worked for change at a national level in the UK. Here are just three examples: • Invasive species, particularly aquatic plants, cost the British economy nearly £2bn per year to deal with. Wetlands are particularly vulnerable because plants from different environments can outcompete our native wildlife and choke waterbodies. WWT played a major role in highlighting which species were particularly destructive, and in April last year, the government took the first step, banning five aquatic plant species from sale in the UK.

• Proposals for a Severn barrage to create tidal energy could have been disastrous for wildlife and habitats in the region, and WWT and other organisations successfully lobbied the Government to develop less damaging tidal power technologies.

• WWT has worked closely with the Government to increase knowledge and understanding of the role SuDS can play in water management and other benefits for people and wildlife.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

29-33 Manifesto.indd 32

Waterlife

33

09/12/2014 16:33

Wigeon (below) and black-tailed godwit (inset opposite)

Three times The expansion of Welney’s Lady Fen wetland habitat will be a boon for wildlife and visitors alike 34

Waterlife

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

34-35 Centre pointv2.indd 34

09/12/2014 16:34

CENTRE POINT

TEAMWORK

Before

Double the size of a successful wetland

habitat, and you provide more room for the wildlife. Treble it, and you can truly sit back and watch the rewarding spectacles. That’s exactly what’s happened at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, where Lady Fen, first created in 2006 with 38 hectares, has now been expanded to a massive 114 hectares – and the wildlife is already flocking in.

The Lady Fen expansion could not be more timely. The increased periods of deeper and more prolonged flooding of recent years on the Ouse Washes have caused problems for the wildlife of Welney, but this new area, which lies alongside the reserve, provides a much more stable habitat. The water levels are controllable, and the reworked landscape has profiled the ditches to give a shallow slope to the water’s edge, providing splashes of shallow water.

The area has been seeded with wetland grasses, and sedges have been planted along the ditches. For extra protection for the incoming swans, the power lines that previously ran overhead have now been laid underground.

The outcome is magnificent. It offers a perfect site for Welney’s famous

After

wintering birds, including Bewick’s swans and wigeon, to roost and feed, while the newly created waterways can now be colonised by water voles.

Importantly, it increases the opportunities for breeding success for Welney’s birds. In previous years, when flooding has hit the Ouse Washes, many breeders have struggled to maintain their nest sites.

The much more flood-resistant Lady Fen offers them increased safety, providing rare breeding birds, such as black-tailed godwits, with a greater chance of rearing their young.

The area can support 10% of the country’s total of breeding godwits, and 100 breeding pairs of waders in all.

The expansion was completed in November, and the swans and various duck species are already using it. Come and see for yourself: you can get great views across Lady Fen from Welney’s visitor centre, and even explore it thanks to a series of guided walks – with a great chance of seeing hares, too – that will be running until the end of February, before the breeding season begins.

It’s the start of a whole new chapter of life at WWT Welney.

The expansion of Lady Fen was only possible thanks to a partnership between WWT, WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited) and the Environment Agency. ‘We are delighted that our partnership with WREN has worked so well in providing this extra wildlife habitat,’ says Welney Centre Manager Leigh Marshall. ‘This habitat will support some of the rarest wading birds in the UK and give them the best chance to increase their population!’

Lady Fen visitor centre (above) and scrape work commencing (below)

The much more flood-resistant Lady Fen offers increased safety, providing rare breeding birds with a greater chance of rearing their young JANUARY/MARCH 2015

34-35 Centre pointv2.indd 35

Waterlife

35

09/12/2014 16:34

THE BIRDERS STORE the one-stop shop for birders

Professional Ripstop Nylon

Waterproof Jacket & Trouser Set £84

We stock one of the largest ranges of birding optics and accessories for all budgets including: BARR & STROUD, CELESTRON, COUNTRY INNOVATION, CULLMANN, EAGLE OPTICS, HAWKE, KITE, KOWA, LEICA, MINOX, OPTECH, OPTICRON, STEINER, SWAROVSKI, TILLEY, VANGUARD, VELBON, VIKING, VORTEX & ZEISS

Hoggs breathable Greenking NEW Razor HD waterproofs feature highly 50mm Travelscope durable ripstop nylon, Price £599 designed for country professionals such as farmers, BL HD from £379 foresters and vets, but also ideal for dogwalking, Skua by hillwalking or fishing. A Telescope Kite with FREE Velbon Sherpa 200R Tripod worth £90 Cases Optics waterproof coat with zipped Toucan 8x42 and 10x42 from £299 internal security pockets, mobile phone pocket and two further internal and NEW MM3 50 ED & from £69.99 MM3 60 ED four external pockets. Also Travelscopes from with detachable hood with £299 & £399 volume adjusters. 36" long The original and best for extra thigh protection Lynx HD 8x30 & 10x30 tripod carrier from £54.99 “The image is sharp right to the from £459 and mesh lined for optimal edge, even at top ALL PRICES INCLUDE Also in stock: Kite Petrel from magnification” Mike Alibone, Birdwatch, March 2014 breathability. Matching £379 and Kite Ibis ED from £799 P&P IN THE UK waterproof and windproof WE HAVE EXCELLENT VIEWING FACILITIES FOR TESTING OPTICS AT OUR STORE IN WORCESTER trousers with 14” boot entry, MORE GREAT OFFERS IN STORE & ONLINE elasticated waist, studded Tel: 01905 312877 Web: www.birders-store.co.uk leg adjusters and reinforced Email: sales@birders-store.co.uk Store address: 7 King Charles Place, St Johns, Worcester WR2 5AJ knees.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9am - 4.30pm Jacket Sizes: S(36-37) M(38-40) L(41-43) XL(44-46) 2XL(47-49) Birders Store_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 1 18/11/2014 12:18 Jacket Was £79 The Birders Store.indd 1 03/09/2014 14:22 Now £59 Save £20

SAVE

£30

When you buy Jacket & Trousers plus FREE P&P

Trouser Waist Sizes: S(30-32) M(33-35) L(36-39) XL(40-42) 2XL(43-45) Trousers Were £35 Now £25 Save £10 Colour: Dark Bottle Green

Regain the freedom of your home with an Acorn Stairlift

Buy the Set SAVE £30 Order Now Quote

Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm

15AW1

Next day installation available 365-day local service and support Safe and reliable New or reconditioned Local surveyors, local engineers

Quote code 15AW1 on the website, phone or return coupon to: FREEPOST RTCK-ZKYJ-GGRB, Fife Country, Cupar, Fife KY15 4RB I enclose a cheque made payable to Fife Country.

Please charge £________________ from my credit/debit card Card no Card Type: Visa Debit q Visa Credit q Mastercard q Maestro q

Maestro Only

Valid from Expiry date Issue no Security number

Please send Code Colour Waist Ins. Leg Qty Total Greenking Jacket 2147 Greenking Trousers 2142 Buy Jacket & Trousers for £84 SAVE £30 Jacket & Trousers ????

BUY 2 PAIRS FOR £79.90 SAVE £20 P&P FREE Name Total £ Address

Postcode

Tel

E-mail Thank you for your order. If you do not wish to receive offers from carefully selected companies please tick the box Company Reg No 15281 Trusted for 125 Years

036_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 36

All Acorn Stairlifts carry the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease-of-Use Commendation

Call now on freephone

0800 326 5807

for your FREE Dr Hilary’s DVD guide to stairlifts

15/12/2014 15:14

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

fresh looks There’s always something new at WWT’s wetland centres across the country.

Here are just a couple of examples

Park life The next time you visit WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre and park your car, pause a little. There’s more going on than meets the eye, and you might even enjoy your first wildlife encounter of the day there.

The orchard at Slimbridge, which serves as an overflow car park, has been prone to flooding in recent years, and it has now been resurfaced with porous paving.

The more heavily used areas are now covered with gravel that is topped with square mesh, known as an EcoGrid, while remaining areas are now surfaced with a sand/loam mix. Beneath these surfaces are pipes that feed Soft verge retained along tree line being rainwater into the ditches planted with hardy herbaceous species, that cross the car park, and such as meadowsweet and ragged robin those ditches are used by Timber knee rail 1000 water voles. min 600mm A similar sustainable high drainage system (SuDS) is Parking in use at WWT Martin Mere surface 4800 min Wetland Centre, and these innovations are an excellent Parking bay example of WWT’s markers commitment to optimise 2400 2400 2400 Storm water run-off for the benefit drains of people and wildlife, even Area that was excavated down to in environments that people 150mm and replaced with EcoGrid wearing course don’t normally notice.

Gravel section and (inset) EcoGrid with sand/ loam mix

Hide and chic This elegant, comfortable and fascinating room is in fact a hide.

It’s the Arun Riverlife Discovery Hide at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, and it was opened last year to offer visitors a wonderful view and learn how to successfully observe wildlife.

The hide is equipped with bird books, binoculars and telescopes, to enable visitors to discover the top 10 birds viewable from inside.

Soft social seating, large picture windows and more to come homely decorative WWT aims to develop interpretation furnish Discovery Hides for the hide with a warm further centres, so relaxing atmosphere, watch this space enabling visitors of all to find out generations to share where. knowledge in this quiet, but friendly space. The Discovery Hide is one of a growing suite of hides – the other two so far are at Slimbridge and London – all of them developed to introduce wildlife watching to a wider audience.

FIND OUT MORE There’s plenty more going on at your local centre this summer. Just turn to page 49 for the full details.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

37 Fresh Looks.indd 37

Waterlife

37

09/12/2014 16:35

Order by 3.00pm for

FREE Next day delivery*

On orders over ÂŁ25 *to most UK postcodes

Attract more Birds... ...with carefully selected fresh natural food, habitats and feeders for all your garden wildlife

We’re here to help: Call Freephone 0800 085 4865 www.arkwildlife.co.uk Request our free catalogue or visit our website 038_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 38

Reviewed online by our customers Read them on our website 12/12/2014 15:06

HOME FROM HOME

C E LE

B R ATI NG

40 YEAR S

LANCS for the

memories

WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre is 40 years old, and we want you to be part of the celebrations

On 1 March, WWT Martin Mere will be celebrating a special anniversary: it will be 40 years to the day since the centre opened its doors to the public (members were offered the chance to explore the site a few months earlier), and more than 5.5 million visits have been made over the years.

As you can imagine, there are many exciting events planned to mark the occasion, and you can read about them on page 58 or by visiting the events page on the website. But this is not just an anniversary for Martin Mere, it’s for all our members and visitors, too, and we

Floodlit Swan Spectacular at WWT Martin Mere

want to hear your memories as well. Next time you visit, you’ll find postcards in the foyer, which we’re asking you to fill in with your anecdotes and never-to-be-forgotten highlights, such as those shown above.

One member, whose memories and discoveries have filled more than just one postcard, is Richard Underwood. He fell so much in love with Martin Mere that he wrote a book about the site! Here, he takes up the story.

‘I was born in Lancaster, and as a young lad I quickly developed a strong interest in natural history. Flies, in JANUARY/MARCH 2015

39-41 Martin Mere v3.indd 39

Waterlife

39

09/12/2014 16:05

HOME FROM HOME particular, fascinated me, and I remember winning a school prize for my research.

Before long, I embarked upon my career in the medical profession, and the natural history took something of a sideline, but when I retired, I decided to pick up entomology again.

‘I wanted to find out more about the natural world around me, and as Martin Mere wasn’t too far away, I went along to see if I could find out more about birds.

The staff there clearly picked up on my enthusiasm, and gave me plenty of voluntary work, which included showing school children around the grounds. When you’re spending time with such enquiring minds, you learn fast!

‘But I was still fascinated by flies, and it struck me that Martin Mere, with its variety of habitats, would be an excellent place to study them. I asked the late Pat Wisniewski, who was Centre Manager at the time, if I could explore my interest further around the site, and he was delighted to let me loose! It wasn’t long before I’d got to know every corner of that wonderful place.

‘Which was why, when someone asked me one day if I knew of any books on Martin Mere, and I discovered that there was just one small one, I thought: “There really should be one. Perhaps I should write it.”

‘The next six or seven years were fascinating. I talked to as many people as I could about Martin Mere, from cleaners to fundraisers to volunteers, and the information came together.

‘There was the story of the volunteer who found a tawny owl hit by a car, and while nursing it back to health fed it meat covered in hair from her own dog, so that the bird would be stimulated to regurgitate pellets. Then there was the photographer who took oodles of photos of Martin Mere… and brewed beer in his darkroom, too! Peter Gladstone, who developed the site in the early days with Sir Peter Scott, was a mine of information about the early days, as was the great wildfowl expert Janet Kear.’

Richard published his book, entitled Martin Mere: A Dream Comes True, in 2002, and with just under 1,000 copies printed, it sold out pretty quickly (a check on Amazon last November, however, revealed that three copies were still available from second-hand booksellers). The book could have represented Richard’s last word on Martin Mere – but not so.

‘I have so many memories from my time as a volunteer there, and of course I was able to enjoy reading and hearing about the memories of so many

Top: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Sir Peter Scott Above: Building the visitor centre

Above: Richard Underwood’s book about Martin Mere Rest of page: Just a few of the site’s many attractions

‘What with the canoe safari, the Wild Walk, the beavers, roundhouse village and more, Martin Mere has continued to improve’ 40

Waterlife

others while putting the book together. But fantastic as Martin Mere was then… it’s even better now! What with the canoe safari, the Wild Walk, the beavers, the roundhouse village and so much more, Martin Mere has just continued to improve. The enthusiasm and vigour of staff and volunteers is wonderful, and although looking back is great, looking ahead to what’s to come is even more exciting. I was delighted to be invited to a special dinner in October, which launched the beginning of this anniversary period, and it was exciting to hear WWT Director of Centre Developments Kevin Peberdy’s talk on Martin Mere and what lies in its future. And all, of course, with the backdrop of those fabulous pink-footed geese.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

39-41 Martin Mere v3.indd 40

09/12/2014 16:06

changing times

Avocets have increased from four on the mere to 110 this year.

Pink-footed geese in Lancashire have gone up from 30,000 in 1975 to 100,000 today.

Whooper swans, unseen in the area as recently as 1970, now number almost 2,000.

‘I mentioned in my book that I see Martin Mere as a railway track. It began with Peter Scott, then Peter Gladstone, branched out into Janet Kear’s work, and has been branching out ever since. New tracks are appearing all the time, in research, conservation, visitor attractions, educational opportunities and so much more, and it will be so exciting to see its influence expand even further.’ Armed with his life membership, given to him and his wife, Betty, from a grateful Martin Mere, Richard plans to do just that.

So can you. Do come along and share your memories with us. And while you’re here, why not create plenty of new memories to enjoy?

For more on the anniversary, visit wwt.org.uk/martinmere

An adventure play area, the new Mere Side café, a feature on weird and wonderful waterfowl and a Wild Walk are just a few of the new aspects of Martin Mere to enjoy, alongside the wildlife, in recent years.

A family of beavers was introduced to the site in 2007, and a family of otters in 2009.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

39-41 Martin Mere v3.indd 41

Waterlife

41

09/12/2014 16:06

WWT_BWWCAd_Jan15.qxd

27/11/2014

13:55

Page 1

The Grant Arms Hotel Grantown-on-Spey

A celebrity guided holiday with “The Urban Birder” David Lindo Sunday 14th to Saturday 20th June 2015.

Join us for a 6 night 5 day fully guided break Just £1195 per person, full board, no single supplements. Max 12 Guests.

THE WILDLIFE HOTEL

Wildlife Breaks in the Highlands As soon as you walk into the Grant Arms Hotel you realise it isn’t just any ordinary Hotel. It’s not only the magnificent newly refurbished building or the fact that Queen Victoria stayed here in 1860. It’s the bird song over the sound system, the screens showing wildlife information, the Wildlife Information Centre and Library and the Osprey Suite lecture theatre.

In short this is a hotel for bird and wildlife watchers: “There are Golf Hotels so why not Bird Watching Hotels?” asks Sue Williams, the full time Bird Watching & Wildlife Club Programme Organiser. “We can provide information about local wildlife and where best to see it, as well as advising Guests about local companies who offer escorted trips. Our local knowledge ensures that you can make the most of your holiday whilst remaining free to create your own itinerary. We also provide a programme of talks, films, walks and briefings.”

Speyside and the Cairngorms are one of the best areas for wildlife watching in the UK. It is perfect for everyone from beginner to expert, whether for a day or a fortnight.

Depending on the season you could see: Golden Eagle, Capercaillie, Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Mountain Hare, Osprey, Ptarmigan, Otter, Red and Black Grouse, Red and Roe Deer, Slavonian Grebe, Crested Tit and Crossbill, as well as Dolphins, Waders, Sea Ducks and Sea Birds along the Moray Firth coast.

On booking Guests receive an information pack including The Watcher - BWWC’s Monthly Newspaper, BWWC Wildlife Map and a Trip Planner. On arrival they will find a copy of The Watcher, as well as a variety of Bird Magazines in their bedroom and The Daily Chirp, BWWC’s daily newsletter, on their breakfast table. As you would expect from a Hotel dedicated to wildlife watchers, there is also a boot wash, drying room, laundry room and “Early Birder” breakfasts for those heading out first-thing!

HOW TO GET THERE

The newly refurbished GRANT ARMS HOTEL offers wonderful food, friendly staff and 50 high quality ensuite bedrooms. All bedrooms come with hairdryer, colour TV and toiletries.

Breakfast to Kippers or Continental

By Road: Grantown is situated just off the A9 Edinburgh- Inverness road.

By Train: The nearest Station is Aviemore (14 miles) on the First ScotRail Edinburgh Inverness line.

By Plane: Inverness Airport (30 miles) Flights from most major UK airports. Other destinations available from Aberdeen Airport (75 miles).

O

Fine Scottish Dining Special Diets accommodated

To get the most out of the area you really need a car.

O

Afternoon Tea and Coffee and After Dinner Tea and Coffee

O

Programme of Talks, Walks and Wildlife Briefings

O

Programme of Films and Quizzes

O

WiFi Complimentary Daily Newspaper

O

Free use of BWWC’s private Slavonian Grebe Hide.

What’s included: O

Extensive Breakfast Menu ranging from full Scottish O

Did you know you can fly EASYJET to INVERNESS from GATWICK, LUTON & BRISTOL for around £50 RETURN www. bwwc.co.uk

O

TARIFF 2014/15

2015 SPECIAL BREAKS Nov - Mar

Apr - Oct

Nov - Dec

4 Night Break DB&B

£260

£320

£260

7 Night Break DB&B

£450

£560

£450

Price per person. Excludes Christmas, New Year and other Special Breaks.

Other lengths of stay are also available. Dogs welcome £20 per room per stay.

Single, Twin, Double, Family & Wheelchair Accessible Rooms available.

Room supplements £pppn: Superior Rooms £15, Four Poster Rooms £30.

Special Rates for Clubs, Tours & Conferences.

Terms & Conditions apply.

TO BOOK CALL 01479 872526 www.bwwc.co.uk or email bookings@bwwc.co.uk

BWWC LTD, 25 THE SQUARE, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HF All programmes, talks, walks and rooms subject to availability and liable to change without notice.

042_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 42

DOG FRIENDLY

BWWC Osprey Suite

BURNS WINTER BREAK

Also coming up check the website for more events

Bird Art Week with Chris Rose Join us to experience a taste of Burns Night and wildlife. (10th April to 18th April) A week with bird and wildlife 4 nights from pp DB&B artist Chris Rose.

22nd January to 26th January

£230

VALENTINES BREAK 11th February to 15th February 4 nights from

£230pp DB&B

SPECIAL EASTER BREAK 3rd April to 7th April 4 nights from

£330pp DB&B

Caper/Grouse Week (27th May to 3rd May) A week celebrating the 4 Grouse species.

Migration Week (8th May to 15th May) A week watching the summer migrants return.

09/12/2014 11:41

WWT ONLINE

netlands

A ROUND-UP OF WWT’S GROWING PRESENCE ON THE WEB

Bird tweet ‘Osprey on the reserve @ WWTWelney this morning.’

Follow us @WWTWorldwide.

Like ‘Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)’ on Facebook.

Find @wwtworldwide on Instagram.

Crane school memories With all our cranes now fending for themselves on the Somerset Levels, Crane School at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre is officially closed. But you can still remind yourself of the wonderful times the crane chicks, crane teachers and visitors had over the years by watching a fabulous 360° video of those great characters. Visit wwt.org.uk/360, put the film on full screen, and click on it to see the complete all-round view.

Save our waters If you’ve read the article on WWT’s manifesto this issue, you’ll know that you can play a role in pushing wetlands closer to the top of the political agenda. But that’s not all: the Environment Agency is asking for comments on plans that will determine how the country’s waters are managed for the next six years.

The consultation ends in March, which means you still have time to contribute. A Save Our Waters website, supported by WWT, has been set up with the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the EU, and you can share your thoughts at saveourwaters.org.uk.

You can also follow #saveourwaters.

Shutterstock; WWT

WORK WONDERS Fancy working with WWT? You can keep up to date with all the current job opportunities – from administration to catering, communications to finance, and conservation to retail – across our centres on our website. If nothing catches your eye at present, the page also gives you the chance to register your interest for the future. For more, visit jobs.wwt.org.uk/vacancies.

Online access All nine of our centres cater for people with special accessibility requirements, and we’re committed to making sure you have a great day. Facilities vary, but all centres have accessible walkways, some step-free hides, wheelchair hire and accessible parking spaces and toilets. We don’t allow dogs due to concern for our birds, but we do, of course, welcome assistance dogs. WWT recently invited independent disability film-maker and consultant Gilbey Films into WWT centres and it created a short video to show what our centres have to offer. It’s at wwt.org.uk/accessibility.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

43 Netlands.indd 43

Waterlife

43

09/12/2014 16:36

wonderful world TOP TEN

1

ten things you (probably) didn’t know about life at wwt

Swinging through the reeds

To prepare for this year’s surveys of harvest mice at WWT Arundel, Grounds Manager Paul Stevens has been running trials. A tunnel opens onto a nest box with bedding material to ensure that the mice are comfortable until release. Paul has been adjusting the sensitivity of the tread bar that closes the door – harvest mice only weigh around 6g so it has to be a hair trigger. He has had success by placing the boxes a few feet off the ground in the reedbed: as this night vision photo shows, the mice shimmy up the reeds and swing like little Tarzans into the nest box traps!

2

Memory man

As you’ll have seen this issue, this year marks WWT Martin Mere’s 40th anniversary, and few of us will have memories of the site that stretch as far back as Pete Bullen’s. Pete started on a job creation scheme back in October 1976, on £28.50 a week, and is now the centre’s building maintenance manager. He has many fond memories, including lying on the turf roof of the visitor centre with Bill Oddie to identify the plants up there. But his fondest of all is meeting Ann from the gift shop. The pair have now been married for 34 years.

3

Swan police

It looks as if these swans have been taken under the strong arm of the law, but they’re taking part in a training exercise.

Swans have a habit of landing on motorways or other busy roads, often becoming disoriented in the process while holding up traffic. To find out how to catch a swan and hold it safely while removing it from danger, local police visited WWT Slimbridge where Warden James Lees (left in the photo) gave them pointers.

44

Waterlife

44-45 Top ten.indd 44

4

Blackbird buffet

Blackbirds are among the commoner birds seen at WWT centres and, indeed, most of the country, but they’re fascinating to watch, particularly when they arrive in large numbers. The mild weather at the end of October meant that there was plenty of late berrying at WWT Llanelli, and the blackbirds took full advantage.

About 50 of them were present, munching and calling, as they fed upon the bountiful autumnal fruit.

It was a great sight.

5

An old friend

Last year, species monitoring volunteer Maurice Durham caught a ringed mute swan in the decoy at WWT Slimbridge.

Its ring was an old design, suggesting that it could be a pretty old bird, but it was only when the database was checked that it was realised just how old it was. It turned out that the swan had been ringed at Slimbridge itself – 23 years ago! This makes it the oldest mute swan ever to be ringed at the centre, and it’s only five years short of the European longevity record.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:59

9

Late departure

Generally speaking, house martins have departed our shores for their winter breeding grounds in Africa

by September or October. This year, however, the warmer than average October encouraged some of them to stay on for a few extra weeks into early November. Even then, there were a few stragglers, and staff at WWT Caerlaverock were amazed to see not just one, but two of these summer visitors still flying around as late as 16 November, a date believed to be a record for the centre.

8

Pioneering volunteering

Month by month

It was a record-breaking year for the freckled ducks at WWT Slimbridge in 2014, with the pairs laying a clutch of eggs every month from February all the way through to December! ‘As a southern hemisphere species from Australia, these birds are reacting to food availability as well as temperature, and are clearly in fantastic health,’ says Aviculture Warden Phoebe Young. ‘We have bred the full total required by our collection plan and are exceedingly happy to be so prolific with one of our long-running species from the 1980s. In fact, I believe WWT was the first European collection to breed freckled ducks in captivity.’

7

10

Winning ways

Congratulations to WWT Welney Wetland Centre, which picked up an Outstanding award (presented here by Satish Kumar to Marketing Manager Emma Brand) in the nature reserve category at the Green Tourism Awards. It wasn’t the only WWT success in recent months: WWT Martin Mere reached the final round in three categories at the Lancashire Tourism Awards, while WWT Arundel was nominated for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Beautiful South Tourism Awards.

Owen Humphries; Nature PL; NHPA; Alamy; Peter Nicolas Sanderson

6

Here’s an amazing statistic: we recently calculated that our volunteers, who number more than 700 in all, contribute around 176,000 hours per year towards WWT’s objectives. That’s an astonishing total, and testament to the commitment of hundreds upon hundreds of people to wetlands and their wildlife. To volunteer, you don’t need expert knowledge – just a keen interest in people and wildlife, and great enthusiasm. For further information, all you have to do is visit wwt.org.uk/ volunteer.

Home comforts

With the winter upon us, WWT bird foods and wildlife foods are ideal for the creatures in your garden. And as they contain none of the cheap fillers and unsuitable seeds often found in other makes, they are excellent value, too. With our birdcare partner, Jacobi Jayne & Co, we have created a mail-order service to bring you the speed and convenience of home delivery all year round.

For information on how to order, simply visit wwtbirdcare.co.uk.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

44-45 Top ten.indd 45

Waterlife

45

09/12/2014 17:00

with

Shutterstock; Ray Burmiston

hello again If you watched the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing last year, you’ll have seen me trying something completely new: learning all those dances was hard work, but thoroughly good fun!

The Strictly adventure may be over, but there’s still plenty of dancing to watch in the months ahead. We’re approaching the time of year when many types of animal are looking for a mate, and the bird world in particular provides some truly spectacular displays, as males and females do their level best to look good.

One of the best courtship dances is that of the great crested grebe. The two birds spend plenty of time facing each other, shaking and bobbing their heads. Then they swim away, dive beneath the surface and re-emerge, each holding a beakful of underwater plants.

They present the plants to each other, then move some distance away before swimming furiously towards each other. Just as it looks as if they’re about to crash, they swoop up, raising their bodies as high as they can, and face each other while treading water. It’s known as the penguin dance.

Over the coming weeks and months you’ll be able to see displaying grebes and many other species at your local WWT centre. Do come along and have a look – and let me know which bird you think deserves to win the glitter ball!

Until next time…

46

Waterlife

46-47 Kids' Zone.indd 46

Steve Backshall Cra n e da nc e

I expect you know about the cranes.

For five years, young cranes were raised at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, to be released into the Somerset countryside where it was hoped they would breed, and we’d all have a chance to see these wonderful birds making their home in the UK once more. Some of the birds obviously missed Slimbridge, though, and have been coming back.

One of the amazing things about cranes is their display dance. It begins

with the male following the female around in a rather pompous kind of walk, rather like a march. The female then gives a loud call, raising her head and slowly lowering it. She calls out in a high note, and then the male screams back at her. Then the dance begins. It’s an impressive sight and sound, and it might well happen at Slimbridge this year.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:40

KIDS’ ZONE

Remember where you are This is a photograph of a male goldeneye displaying. As you can see, he throws his head back as far as it will go in order to impress his girl. He can manage these types of acrobatics very well – but only when on the water. A friend of mine once saw a goldeneye standing on the side of a lake, and a female swam past. He must have forgotten where he was, because he went into display mode, threw his head back… and lost his balance and toppled down the bank!

Unsurprisingly, the unimpressed female simply swam off!

Need a handy guide to the birds to see at your local WWT centre as spring approaches?

You can download one at spotter.wwt.org.uk.

rs Long – legged dance Birds with long legs and necks are very impressive and, as you can imagine, their displays are awesome to watch. There are four birds here, but only three of them are displaying.

Which is the odd one out? Answer on page 10.

1. LITTLE EGRET

3. GREY HERON

Ho ho!

2. CORMORANT

Do you know any good dances?

Only the cha-chachaffinch!

4. BITTERN

get in touch!

Send your letters to Explore, Waterlife, WWT, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, or waterlife@wwt.org.uk. I’d love to hear from you.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

46-47 Kids' Zone.indd 47

Waterlife

47

09/12/2014 16:41

Wetlands & Wildlife Safari by Elephant Trails Specialist wildlife tour operator Elephant Trails Safari Co. presents an exclusive 2015 wetlands and wildlife safari, guided by WWT’s Dave Fairlamb and Desiree Hart

Images by D Hart

For more information, contact dave.fairlamb@wwt.org.uk Arriving in Botswana’s safari capital, Maun, we begin our journey at the Moremi Game Reserve on the Okavango Delta. Exploring the area by boat gets us close to the delta’s rich wildlife. We then journey east to the Khwai area, where we may see lion, leopard, giraffe and zebra. Our journey then takes us to Savuti in the Chobe National Park, famous for its elephant and lion populations. We then take a boat cruise on the Chobe. The trip ends at the world famous Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

11 days, 9-19 July 2015. Price £2,650 (excluding flights)

A donation will be made to WWT per booking, by our hosts Elephant Trails 48 Safari house ad.indd 1

09/12/2014 16:37

Discover the highlights and events of the season‌ and don’t forget to look out for GIANT ducks (or bunnies) at your local WWT centre this Easter For the full list of centre events, information and news, find your local centre at wwt.org.uk

w

nl

in

Cur le Ba dge r

Du

Avocet Sh

t-e or

ar ed ow l

M

harrier sh ar W a

er ov

Golde np l

r te

e vol

Ja ck

49-63 DYW.indd 49

snipe

09/12/2014 16:44

D O W N YO U R WAY Arundel

Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9PB 01903 881530 info.arundel@wwt.org.uk

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre Highlights Come the Easter Holidays, coot and moorhen chicks and mallard ducklings will be waddling round the reserve, in time for the GIANT Duck Hunt. In the meantime, January brings many delights to WWT Arundel. Look out for bitterns in the reedbed, firecrests around the woodland loop and siskins and lesser redpolls feeding at the alders. In the hedgerows, bullfinches are easier to see, this shy species made more brazen by the hunt for food. Goldfinches feed on the teasel heads and mixed flocks of tits squabble on the bird feeders. Kingfishers visit their regular perches to fish – watch for them hovering above the water in front of the Ramsar Hide.

Our first oystercatcher usually shows up in mid-February, in time for Love Wetlands Week of February half-term.

Larger numbers of teal, pochard and shoveler can be seen on the water from the hides. During cold snaps, flocks of 50-70 lapwing come onto the reserve. When the Arun Valley freezes up, a flock of 25 or more Bewick’s swans come into roost overnight. If you’re an early bird, we open at 8am from 25-31 January for Breakfast With the Birds Week, so you can capture the birds with your camera. Winter Wildfowl Photography courses with Robert Canis are running each month to help you learn great techniques.

The ever-popular Wetland Discovery Boat Safari is a great opportunity to see the wildlife of the reedbeds and more. The boats run between 11am and 3.30pm daily. For a closer look, don’t forget the pond-dipping sessions which start again at Easter. For details on these and many more great events, see below and keep an eye on the website.

Bittern

Behind the scenes

‘The sight of bitterns in the reedbed always excites our visitors and it looks like this will be a good winter for water rail sightings, with high numbers of these birds on the reserve already.’ Paul Stevens, Arundel Grounds Manager

Arundel Events (Key below. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/arundel) Daily Activities Wetland Discovery Boat Safari Glide with a wildlife guide on quiet electric boats through the reedbeds of Wetlands Discovery. First boat 11am, last boat 3.30pm.

Suggested donation of £1. WA Hand-feed Wildfowl Hand-feed exotic wildfowl like Hawaiian nene and Australian wood ducks in our World Wetlands area.

Until closing. Feeding grain costs £1.20 a bag, three bags for £3. WA

key

50

Thurs 8 January, Thurs 19 February and Tues 10 March Wildfowl Photography Workshop Robert Canis teaches you to photograph wildfowl in the winter when the low sun reveals the textures and enhances the colours of the birds. 10am-4pm. £89. IA BE

Mondays 19 January, 16 February and 16 March Supporters Group Talk Series Profit from this series of talks goes to Arundel.

Upcoming talks are: January – Mike Mockler, Africa; February – Ralph and Brenda Todd, On the Trail of the Crane; March – Chris Collins, Russian Far East. 7pm. £3. IA (eve) Sun 25 to Sat 31 January Breakfast With the Birds Week We open early for

breakfast, boat safaris and walks down the Tranquil Trail. 8am.

UAA

Sun 25 January Celebrate Scotland It’s Burns Night so we will celebrate with a talk on Caerlaverock, with whisky and music. 10am4pm. IA Sat 7 and Sun 8 February Tell Me a Story Jonathon Huet spins tales for children at 30-minute sessions in the Outlook In building.

Includes kite-making

each afternoon.

10am-3pm. WA

Firecrest

Sat 14 to Sun 22 February  Wetlands Week Love birds, water voles, wildlife guides, boat rides, crafts and habitats – lots to do and love for families. IA Mon 28 March to Sun 12 April The Quack Factor Go quackers on our rubber ducky hunt trail and see new life emerge as wild ducklings hatch.

Pond dipping reopens for spring. 10am-4pm. IA

BE Booking Essential RI Refreshments Included M/F Member/Friend IA price Includes Admission cost WA included With Admission cost UAA Usual Admission rates Apply WP Weather Permitting OAA Overnight Accommodation Available PC/PP Per Child/Person

Centre events are subject to change. Please phone for further information or visit the WWT website wwt.org.uk/visit/arundel /caerlaverock /castleespie /llanelli /london /martinmere /slimbridge /washington /welney

Waterlife

49-63 DYW.indd 50

Diving Duck Feed See some of the rarest waterfowl in the world show off their fishing skills in the clear chalk-fed waters of the Icelandic Lake pen! WA

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

12/12/2014 15:11

Caerlaverock

Eastpark Farm, Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire DG1 4RS 01387 770200 info.caerlaverock@wwt.org.uk

WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre Highlights This is the time of year when the barnacle geese are providing wonderful views as they flock in the fields. As you scan them, there’s always a chance that something interesting will be among them. Already this winter, two Greenland white-fronted geese and a dark-bellied brent goose have been seen tucked into the flocks, as have two leucistic barnacle geese. Leucism is the reduction of pigmentation, giving the birds a much whiter look.

The other white birds still gathering at the centre are the whooper swans. By February they should be peaking at around 500 in total. This year, you have an opportunity to get to know them, as the centre is offering you the chance to name a whooper… for life! Although whoopers don’t have such easily recognisable bill patterns as Bewick’s swans, many of the Caerlaverock birds are ringed, and as they come close to the Sir Peter Scott Observatory, you’ll be able to pick out your own bird with binoculars. It costs just £50 to name a whooper: for information call 01387 770200. The money will go towards whooper swan conservation and research.

You certainly won’t need binoculars to spot the ‘wigwam’ easily visible from the hides. The triangular shape is actually a new nesting platform for the ospreys: as more of them are returning to the region, the centre is hoping that a second pair will take up residence either this year or soon in the future.

In addition to excellent bird numbers (a reserve record of 1,900 lapwing has been counted this winter) there’s plenty to enjoy at the centre as the weeks roll by. There are new wildlife photography courses for beginners, the dawn flights, plus many family events during the holidays and weekends.

Osprey

Behind the scenes

‘It will be very exciting to see whether a second pair of ospreys arrives at the centre this year to take advantage of our new nesting platform.’

Brian Morrell, Centre Manager

Caerlaverock Events (See page 50 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/caerlaverock) Daily Activities Guide in the Hide Our guides will point out the best wildlife. See the ‘What’s on’ board in the Visitor Centre for information. 11am-3pm.

WA UAA

Wild Swan Feeds See wild whooper swans closer than anywhere in Britain from the Sir Peter Scott Observatory, with live commentary.

(October to April). 11am and 2pm. WA UAA Sat 10 January Willow Lantern Workshop Make your own barnacle goose lantern. This event is in preparation for the Big Burns Night Supper on Sunday 25 January, where we will

fly our geese down the streets of Dumfries!

All ages welcome.

10am-4pm. Free. BE Sat 17 January Ducking and Diving Learn to recognise the different types of duck that visit the centre in winter and see how they vary, depending on their feeding habits! Take part in games and activities.

Family event. 10am2pm. WA UAA BE Sundays 1 February and 8 March Wildlife Photography for Beginners Beginners’ workshop with Tom Langlands and Bob Fitzsimmons.

Learn how to take fantastic photographs of the geese and swans on

the reserve. 10am-4pm.

Contact the centre for details. IA BE Sun 1 February Dawn Flight Join the wardens as we open early to experience the wild geese flighting in. The coffee shop will also be open to provide hot drinks and bacon rolls. Bring warm, waterproof clothing, binoculars and a torch.

7am. WA UAA BE OAA Sat 14 February Wetland Challenge Day Take on the Wetland Challenge to see how many types of wetland wildlife you can find. Family event.

10am-2pm.

WA UAA BE

Tues 17 February Family Birding Day Look at all the different kinds of bird on the reserve. Learn about the various families of birds that live on wetlands.

10am-2pm. WA UAA BE Sat 21 and Sun 22 February, and Sat 21 and Sun 22 March High Tide Birding Join the warden to watch the waders brought in by the high tide. Around midday, but exact timings tbc. Call for details. WA UAA BE Sun 1 March In Focus Try before you buy the latest binoculars and telescopes. In Focus experts are on hand to give advice. The centre

benefits from every sale.

10am-4pm. Free.

Sat 7 March Build a Bug Hotel Build a bug hotel to attract insects to our Farmhouse Garden and discover how you can create wildlife homes.

10am-2pm. WA UAA BE Sun 15 March Mother’s Day Lunch Treat mum to lunch in ‘The Granary’, followed by a commentated whooper swan feed at 2pm. 12.30-3pm. Call for details. BE Sun 29 March ‘Make the boy interested in nature’ Learn about WWT’s founder, Sir Peter Scott, and the amazing things

he achieved, and take part in outdoor and art activities. Family event.

10am-2pm. WA UAA BE Mon 6 April Great Caerlaverock Easter Egg Hunt Have fun map-reading around the reserve to find the egg and duck clues. There are also egg-related craft activities!

Family event. 10am2pm. WA UAA BE Mon 6 to Sun 19 April Stars and Stripes Watch wild badgers feeding outside our observatory. Tea, coffee and biscuits available.

8pm. Adults £7.50, concessions £5, children £2.50 (must be paid for in advance). BE RI OAA

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

49-63 DYW.indd 51

Waterlife

51

09/12/2014 16:44

052_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 52

09/12/2014 11:41

D O W N YO U R WAY Castle Espie

Ballydrain Road, Comber, Co Down BT23 6EA 028 9187 4146 info.castleespie@wwt.org.uk

WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre Highlights

This year, there’s a real focus on family weekend fun at Castle Espie, with even more events than ever for you and your children to enjoy. The second weekend in February, for example, offers the opportunity to make your own nest box, while there is a host of activities, including crafts Merlin and a trail, throughout the February half-term holiday as the centre launches Wakey Wakey!, a celebration of hibernation as wildlife begins to spring to life.

In the following weeks, there’ll be further great themes, some of a historical nature, such as an exploration of the Ice Age and Mesolithic man, in which you’ll be able to learn how to make a campfire and tools.

March, of course, includes St Patrick’s Day, when you’ll be able to follow the leprechaun trail and meet the snakes that the great saint himself forgot to banish! At Easter, there’ll also be the welcome return of the annual Easter Bunny Hunt, one of Castle Espie’s most popular events.

While you’re visiting, don’t forget to check out the centre’s Nature Through Art exhibition, showing a wonderful range of artworks from a collection of artists, and running through February and March.

This is the time of year when the mudflats come alive with aerial displays from dunlin and knot. Last winter they each numbered more than a thousand and should be back once more.

During the early months of the year, as wildlife gathers, it’s always worth keeping an eye on the skies, as raptors attempt to make the most of their opportunities. Buzzards, kestrels and sparrowhawks should all be present, while peregrines and merlins are possibilities, too. Look out for tree sparrows and various finch species on the bird feeders.

Red knot

Behind the scenes

‘The centre’s new Sensory Garden, full of sights, smells, sounds and more, will be enjoying its first spring, providing visitors with plenty to enjoy.’

Kerry Mackie, Reserve Manager

Castle Espie Events (See page 50 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/castleespie) Until Sun 1 February Loose Thread Quilters Exhibition Loose Thread Quilters is a small group of active quilt makers from all over Northern Ireland.

10am-4.30pm. Free.

Sat 7 February to Sun 22 March Nature Through Art – Various Artists The Nature Through Art exhibition features work from a number of NI artists in a variety of media. 10am-4.30pm.

Free.

Sat 14 and Sun 15 February Bird Box-Building Workshop Build a bird box love nest for wild birds at this beginner’s bird box-building workshop.

11am-4pm. Additional £5 charge applies to take home.

Mon 16 to Sun 22 February Wakey Wakey!

Join us at Castle Espie for half-term fun for everyone, with activities based on the theme of

hibernation. 11am-4pm.

of the natural world.

1-4pm. WA

Sat 28 February to Sun 1 March Ice Age Explore the 40,000year-old world of the Ice Age, when the land was covered in snow, ice and unusual creatures.

11am-4pm. WA

Sat 14 to Sun 15 March The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Join the Mad Hatter and friends for a tea party to remember at our classic Alice in Wonderland-inspired lunch. 12 noon and 2pm.

Additional costs apply.

WA

Sat 7 to Sun 8 March Simply Science Help our roving scientist as they conduct fun experiments illustrating the wonder

BE

Tues 17 March Celebrate St Patrick’s Day Discover the little

laughing leprechauns hidden around the reserve, meet the snakes St Patrick forgot to banish, try potato printing and more!

11am-4pm. WA Sat 21 to Sun 22 March Quackanory Join our storyteller for children’s classic stories inspired by nature.

12 noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. WA Sat 28 to Sun 29 March

Meso-man Who is Meso-man?

Meet our Mesolithic man and get survival tips. Learn how to build a camp, light a fire and work with Stone Age tools. 1-4pm. WA Sat 28 March to Sun 12 April Giant Easter Bunny Hunt Join us for our Easter egg-stravaganza and annual giant Easter bunny hunt with lots of events and activities.

11am-4pm. WA

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

49-63 DYW.indd 53

Waterlife

53

09/12/2014 16:45

Great white egret

Llanelli Events (See page 50 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/llanelli) Thurs 1 January Tick and Twitch Get your New Year’s bird list off to a flying start! How many different species of wild bird can you find during your visit? Families welcome. For all ages, novices and experts.

Our guides in the hides will be on hand to help.

All competitors will be entered into a prize draw. 9.30am-5pm.

UAA WA

Sundays until 22 March Follow the Feed

54

Waterlife

49-63 DYW.indd 54

Join one of our wardens on the afternoon bird feed. Watch hundreds of ducks waddle alongside the wheelbarrow, and excitedly swim and splash in anticipation of their afternoon meal before the feeding frenzy begins! This is a fantastic opportunity to see our collection birds close up, and ask any questions about the birds we have here and how we look after them.

Suitable for all the family. 3.30pm for approximately one hour. UAA WA

Every Monday during Term Time Monday Munchkins Come along with your toddlers to take part in activities especially for them, with a different theme every week. Activities include pond dipping, minibeast hunt, arts and crafts, stories, games and feeding the birds.

11am-12 noon.

UAA WA

Weekends in January Telescope in the Tower – 11am-12 noon; snow goose talk – 1pm;

winter-themed craft activities – 2-4.30pm.

UAA WA

Weekdays in January Guide in the Viewing Tower Join us in our heated viewing tower to watch the birds in comfort! We will have our telescope set up looking for birds on the estuary and saline lagoon, and will try to spot birds of prey over the saltmarsh. Our guide will be on hand to help you and answer any questions you

may have. 2-3pm.

UAA WA

Saturdays 17 January, 7 February and 14 March Janet Bligh Painting Days An art class designed for all adult artists.

The emphasis is on enjoyment, encouragement and personal achievement at your own level. A little basic knowledge is preferable. Please bring your own materials. 10am4.30pm. £30PP. IA

Weekends in February Weekend Activities Minibeast hunt – 11am-12 noon; family birdwatching – 2-3pm; craft workshops – times vary (small charge applies to cover cost of materials). UAA WA Weekdays in February Guide in the Hide Find out more about our wild birds from our guide in the hide, who will be able to point out different species, and provide binoculars and a telescope for you to get a close look at

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:45

D O W N YO U R WAY Llanelli

Llwynhendy, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 9SH 01554 741087 info.llanelli@wwt.org.uk

WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre Highlights Come Easter, the pond-dipping events start once again, along with den building and flamingo talks: and and new for Easter 2015 – a GIANT Duck Hunt. This is WWT’s nationwide new twist on the Easter bunny tradition, providing plenty of fun.

The weekends are jam-packed with exciting events for you and your family to enjoy, too. Throughout January, Telescope in the Tower gives you a great opportunity to find out more about the wildlife on the reserve, as our expert wardens are on hand to help you. There’s an added bonus: if it’s wet and cold outside, you can still enjoy the wildlife while staying warm and dry inside with a cup of tea and cake.

There are also craft afternoons for the children to enjoy.

The ever-popular minibeast hunts feature during the February weekends, along with family birdwatching sessions in the Observatory. During the half-term holiday, you’ll have the opportunity to make nest boxes, too.

March begins with St David’s Day, and you’ll be able to sample a host of Welsh treats in the café, from Welsh cakes to cawl, a most warming stew. The first bat walk of the year starts in this month, and we advise you to book in good time as it is likely to sell out quickly.

The warmer weather in autumn meant that many birds were slow to arrive, but once they did, they quickly started building in numbers, and by now they’re collectively numbering in their thousands. Look out for black-tailed godwits, curlews, dunlin and golden plovers among the waders, while massed flocks of wigeon are always a wonderful sight in January.

Stonechats are having a much better winter than in previous years, while the great white egret that was seen several times towards the end of the year might still be on site.

the birds. Suitable for adults and children, and particularly beneficial to those wishing to improve their bird identification skills. 2-3pm.

UAA WA

Sat 14 February to Sun 22 February Half-term Activities Minibeast hunt – 11am-12 noon; family birdwatching – 2-3pm; craft workshops – times vary (small charge applies to cover cost of materials).

UAA WA

Fri 20 and Sun 22 February Bird nest boxmaking workshops Receive expert one-to-one tuition to make your very own professional-quality robin or blue tit nest box. Put the box up in your garden to give baby birds their first home in the springtime. 11am12 noon and 1-4pm.

Drop in anytime. £6.50 per box. UAA Sun 1 March St David’s Day Specials in café

including cawl and Welsh cakes. UAA Weekends in March Weekend Activities Minibeast hunt – 11am-12 noon; family birdwatching – 2-3pm; craft workshops – times vary (small charge applies to cover cost of materials).

UAA WA

Weekdays in March Guide in the Hide Find out more about our wild birds from our guide in the hide, who will be able to point

Male Stonechat stonechat

Behind the scenes

‘I visited the Llanelli centre yesterday with my three-year-old daughter. This morning, she was telling her dad all about the spines on a stickleback, and the flatworm which eats and poos through the same hole: I was amazed at how much she had retained.’

Katharine Aylett, Llanelli visitor

out different species, and provide binoculars and a telescope for you to get a close look at the birds. Suitable for adults and children, and particularly beneficial to those wishing to improve their bird identification skills. 2-3pm.

UAA WA

Fri 20 March Bat Walk Join us for an evening bat walk after sunset, lasting approximately one hour. Take bat detectors on a walk

around the Millennium Wetlands and the grounds, and go behind the scenes to look and listen for bats in areas normally off limits! Bat craft activities will be available for children from 6pm. At 7.30pm, hot drinks (tea, coffee or hot chocolate) and biscuits will be available. Cost is £4PP (including refreshments and children’s craft activities), and must be paid at the time of booking. 6pm.

Sat 28 March to Mon 13 April Easter Holiday Activities Den building – 11am-12 noon; mini pond dipping (drop-in session for toddlers): –11am-12 noon; flamingo talk – 1pm; pond dipping – 2.30-3.30pm; craft workshops – times vary (a small charge applies to cover cost of materials).

UAA WA

BE RI IA

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

49-63 DYW.indd 55

Waterlife

55

12/12/2014 15:11

Wildlife Trails_WWT_Jan Mar_15.indd 1

056_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 56

15/12/2014 10:37

15/12/2014 15:15

D O W N YO U R WAY London

Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, London SW13 9WT 020 8409 4400 info.london@wwt.org.uk

WWT London Wetland Centre Highlights This Easter, you’ll be able to enjoy the GIANT Duck Hunt, in which you and your family can search the centre for hidden rubber ducks – a neat variation on the Easter bunny theme. Before then, the February half-term holiday hosts the very first ‘Eggs, Bugs and Rock ’n’ Roll’ event, marking the ways in which animals meet, mate and produce the next generation. For details of all these events, and many more, simply see below and check the website.

Fairly new to birdwatching? Then London Wetland Centre is laying on opportunities for you to find out more.

New for 2015 are the Birdwatching with a Warden events, in which you get to tour the reserve with one of our experts, discovering the secrets of identification.

There’ll be plenty to look at out on the reserve, with our winter birds enjoying this oasis in the middle of London.

Bitterns are a highlight at this time of year (there were six last year), while redwings and fieldfares will be flocking around their roosting sites as dusk approaches. Teal should be present in large numbers, joined by shovelers, while snipe and possibly jack snipe should be looked out for on the grazing marsh. As spring approaches, listen out for the songs of great tits, Cetti’s warblers, chiffchaffs and willow warblers.

In fact, what’s so exciting about London Wetland Centre is that you never know what you might see. This winter has already recorded a black redstart. Meanwhile, the wet and warm weather towards the end of last year produced a bumper crop of various species of fungi, including the beautifully named fluted bird’s nest.

This all provides plenty of wonderful photography opportunities, and the centre is laying on day-long courses – one for beginners, the other for more experienced snappers.

Bearded tit

Behind the scenes

‘Winter is my favourite time of year. Not only is there a good chance of seeing a bittern but you may also catch sight of a bearded tit in the reedbeds.’

Adam Salmon, Reserve Manager

London Events (See page 50 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/london) Sat 10 January to Sun 8 February Family Weekend Activities Join us for storytelling in our yurt. Then come on a walk to see the ducks that live here in winter, and visit our guide in the hide, who will give you birdwatching tips and explain how to use the binoculars and telescopes. WA Sat 10 January and Sat 7 March Winter Birdwatching Walk A winter wander with our warden, who will

give you tips on fieldcraft and bird ID. Bring binoculars/ telescope. £20PP, includes breakfast.

9.30-11am. RI BE UAA Sat 24 January and Sat 28 March Introduction to Wildlife Photography With photographer Iain Green. A session on understanding your camera and composition is followed by a practical session outside.

Includes 1-2-1 tuition. £60PP members; £65PP non-members. 10am4pm. BE IA

Sun 1 February Birdwatching With a Warden A warden will guide you around the reserve.

You’ll get tips on how to watch and listen for birds, and differences between key species.

Bring binoculars/ telescope. £10PP. 9.30-11am. BE UAA

1-2-1 tuition. £60PP members; £65PP nonmembers. 10am-4pm.

Fri 6 February Winter Wildlife Photography Course Begins with an introductory session inside, before heading out. For beginners and intermediate. Includes

Sat 14 to Sun 22 February Eggs, Bugs and Rock ’n’ Roll Discover how animals meet, mate and mind the kids. Suitable for all over eight years. Decorate a

BE IA

Sat 7 February Members’ Walk The warden explains the work done in creating and managing habitats for the animals and plants. £2PP. 1pm. BE

bird box for a feathered couple or build a bird feeder in our Scrap Cheep Challenge! Some charges for crafts. WA Sat 28 February to Sun 22 March Weekend Family Activities Spot the signs of spring and see which birds have returned from their winter ‘holiday’. Join in our spring nature crafts.

Sat 7 March Members’ Walk Join our warden on a 30-minute walk into our reedbeds. £2PP. 1pm.

Starts at Headley Hide.

BE

Wed 18 March Stargazing Evening A beginner’s guide to the galaxy. 6.30pm (lasts approximately two hours). No entry before 6.30pm. £10PP. BE Sat 28 March to Sun 12 April Easter Holidays Follow our Easter Duck Hunt to find our missing ducklings. Create a duckling to take home (small charge) and join in our games. Trails £1 each. UAA

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

49-63 DYW.indd 57

Waterlife

57

12/12/2014 15:11

D O W N YO U R WAY B R ATI NG C E LE

40 YEAR S

WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre Highlights At Easter, you’ll be able to take part in our GIANT Duck Hunt, our variation on the Easter bunny theme. Before then, the February half-term holiday is crammed with activities, as we build towards the New Life season, including nest box-making for you and your family to enjoy. Nene goslings should be appearing by the beginning of March, and the canoe safaris and boat tours will be reopening for the season by the middle of the month. Wild Walk will be relaunched around this time, too.

The most exciting event, however, will be the celebrations of Martin Mere’s 40th anniversary; the centre was opened to the public on 1 March 1975 and we’re planning a host of commemorative activities. Virginia, the whooper swan, will have plenty of memories of Martin Mere.

The whooper swans are always one of the great attractions at Martin Mere at this time of year, and numbers should be at their peak in January. Look out for Virginia (her leg ring is VJA), who was ringed at the centre back in 1993, and came back again this winter, not just with a mate, but with at least one cygnet. The amazing Virginia is at least 23 years old, but despite her age we still don’t know where she summers. WWT works in partnership with many organisations, but none has ever seen her outside the UK. The whoopers should be here until March, but before they leave, the first of the lapwings and avocets should be returning in numbers, providing plenty of entertainment with their displays.

Do take a look at Martin Mere’s online diary, on the WWT website, in which you’ll be able to revisit all our best stories and achievements over the years. You can join in, too: next time you visit, just pick up a postcard from the foyer in the visitor centre and fill in your own best memories and anecdotes.

Martin Mere

Burscough, Ormskirk, Lancashire L40 0TA 01704 895181 info.martinmere@wwt.org.uk

Virginia, the whooper swan

Behind the scenes

‘Having been at Martin Mere since 1976, I’m really looking forward to the 40th anniversary celebrations, which everyone’s going to enjoy.’

Pete Bullen, Building Maintenance Manager

Martin Mere Events (See page 50 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/martinmere) Daily Activities Otter Talk Come and meet our friendly family of otters – Ned, Tai, Penny, Bell and Flick – at 11.30am and 2.30pm every day.

WA

Until Fri 30 January WWT Exhibition An exhibition raising awareness of WWTs work with endangered species as well as raising money for development projects at Martin Mere.

IA

58

Waterlife

49-63 DYW.indd 58

Until Fri 27 March Swan Spectacular Watch the sight of thousands of whooper swans, ducks and geese feeding on the mere at 3pm from Swan Link hide and 3.30pm from Raines Observatory.

The Raines Observatory feed includes a warden’s talk to learn about the incredible journeys of these majestic creatures. WA Until Fri 27 March Conservation Talk

Listen to a talk and watch a feed while learning all about some of Martin Mere’s waterfowl species that WWT is undertaking conservation work on around the world.

1.30pm. WA Toddler Thursday Gosling Gang Come along with your toddlers to enjoy story time and craft activities every Thursday during term time at 10.30am and 1.30pm. During the

school holidays there’s a story at 10.30am.

WA

Tuesdays in January Floodlit swans Enjoy watching thousands of Whooper swans by floodlight at the Raines Observatory whilst chatting to our resident researchers Dave and Estelle and learning all about the incredible journeys these swans undertake.

4.30pm – 6.30pm.

WA

Sundays 18 January, 22 February and 22 March Meet Reptiles Come along and meet reptiles from the North West Reptile Club in our lecture theatre. 12 noon-3pm.

WA

Mon 2 February to Sun 29 March Exhibition: Association of Animal Artists Browse the creative work of the Association

of Animal Artists, which uses a variety of techniques, including textiles, painting, drawing and sculpture.

All day. WA Sat 14 to Sun 22 February February Half-term Come and make your own nest box to take home (extra charge) and see thousands of pink-footed geese and whooper swans as they journey to Martin Mere for the winter.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

12/12/2014 15:13

Lapwing

Fridays 20 February and 13 March Birdwatching Morning Join Andy Bunting from In Focus to develop your bird identification skills in the field and receive expert advice on using guides and choosing binoculars and telescopes. £22PP. 7am-12 noon. BE Saturdays 21 February and 14 March Wildlife Photography Workshop

A fascinating workshop with Andy Bunting from In Focus introducing you to the finer points of wildlife photography, going beyond automatic settings to create truly spectacular images. £65PP. 10am-4pm.

BE

Sun 22 February Drawing and Painting Birds Join award-winning local artist and illustrator Tony Disley to explore the process

from drawing through to a finished painting of a bird subject. £50PP. 10am-4pm. BE Sat 28 February, Sun 1 March, Sun 8 March and Mon 9 March Celebrate 40 Years of Martin Mere Join Martin Mere as we celebrate our 40-year anniversary. There will be lots of fun activities as well as 70s food in the café and free entry for 40-year-olds. All day.

WA

Sun 15 March Drawing and Painting Birds Join local artist and illustrator Tony Disley to explore the process from drawing through to a finished painting of a bird subject. £50PP. 10am-4pm. BE

biodiversity. Enjoy spotting some of the UK’s most threatened species ranging from water voles to reed buntings. 12 noon-4pm weekdays and 10.30am4pm weekends/ holidays. £6 per canoe (seats up to three).

Mon 23 March to Mon 2 November Canoe Safari Our self-guided canoe safari is a fun way to explore the reedbed habitat and its rich

Mon 23 March to Mon 2 November Guided Boat Tours Take a peaceful tour of our wetlands and learn all about Martin Mere.

UAA

Enjoy watching wildlife, spotting dragonflies, listening for warblers and admiring the wild flowers. Please check at the information desk for times. £3 PP. UAA Sat 28 March to Sun 19 April Easter Holidays Take part in our GIANT plastic duck hunt and duck race as well as the reopening of Canoe Safari and boat tours, pond dipping and more.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

49-63 DYW.indd 59

Waterlife

59

09/12/2014 16:46

Barn owl

Slimbridge Events (See page 50 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/slimbridge) Daily Activities Otters – Back from the Brink Meet our friendly family of otters – Flo, Minnie and Ha Ha – and hear a talk as they tuck into a tasty fish supper.

11.30am and 3pm. WA

Common cranes

Toad Hall Talk Come to Toad Hall and hear our expert give an insight into the world of amphibians. You will have the opportunity to hold some of the collection of frogs, toads and newts, and ask questions. 2.15pm daily, plus 12.30pm at weekends and school holidays. WA

60

Waterlife

49-63 DYW.indd 60

Crane Talk – Back from the Brink Discover how Slimbridge staff are working to breed and release back into the wild these birds, which have been extinct in the UK for more than 300 years. 2.30pm.

WA

Guided Walk Join one of our volunteers as they take you on a walk through the grounds, telling you about the history of the centre, the birds that you can see and the other things you might like to see or do. 11am. Times

sometimes vary, so check on the noticeboard on the day.

WA

Weekends until Sat 28 February Floodlit Swan Feed Enjoy the magical winter spectacle of thousands of wild birds and Bewick’s swans wintering on Swan Lake in floodlight. Listen to the warden’s commentary from the heated comfort of the observatory and discover how we identify each Bewick’s swan individually.

6.15pm. Adults £6, children £4.

Saturdays until 28 February Decoy Demonstrations How do you catch a duck with a dog? Watch our very own furry canine assisting with conservation work as birds are caught and ringed in the decoy nets.

Book your place at the admission desk. A demonstration may run on a Sunday depending on staffing and dog availability. 2pm. WA Until Sat 28 February Wild Bird Feed Don’t miss this fantastic winter spectacle. From the comfort of the heated observatory,

hear our warden’s commentary as he feeds the thousands of wintering wild birds and hundreds of Bewick’s swans that have flown all the way from Arctic Russia to be here. 4pm. WA Thurs 8 and Fri 9 January Floodlit Swan Supper Settle in to the comfort of our heated observatory, with a glass of mulled wine, to watch our enchanting wild Bewick’s swans as they are fed by one of our expert wardens.

Learn about their incredible stories and

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:46

D O W N YO U R WAY Slimbridge

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre Highlights Easter promises to be hugely entertaining this spring, with a host of events laid on for you and your family, including the GIANT Duck Hunt. Before then, at the end of January, you won’t want to miss the Festival of Birds, complete with cinema talks, stands, guides in the hide and much more. This popular event is on 31 January and 1 February. For more details on these and many more activities, keep your eye on the website.

The joy of birdwatching at Slimbridge is that you never know what might turn up. In early November, two reserve firsts were recorded within three days of each other: a Dartford warbler and a penduline tit. On one particularly foggy day, five great skuas, which had clearly got lost, could be seen across the reserve. By now, waders and wildfowl will be filling the reserve in great numbers, and one of the highlights to look out for is bean geese, which sometimes put in an appearance and can be distinguished from the other ‘grey’ geese by their darker head and black bill with orange band. Golden plovers have been plentiful this year, with a peak of 5,500. Having been absent for some years, stonechats have now returned to winter on the reserve. Barn owls are always a wonderful sight, and marsh harriers are being seen frequently: hopes are high that they may be becoming resident birds.

Another winter highlight is the daily wild bird feed, and every Saturday you can also enjoy the fascinating decoy dog demonstrations, as our tolly dog, who helps us round up the wildfowl for ringing, is put through her paces. There’s a brand new event with a twist this year: the birdwatch mornings are particularly focused on the amazing cranes that have returned to Slimbridge from their release grounds on the Somerset Levels.

watch them feed among thousands of other birds. After this amazing spectacle you will be served a delicious three-course meal in our restaurant, followed by tea and coffee.

6.15pm. £26, includes three-course meal.

BE RI

Saturdays 10 and 31 January Birdwatch Morning Join our warden as he opens our hides around the grounds to learn about the different birds visible from each hide and how to identify them in their seasonal plumages. 8am. £15.95,

includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll. BE RI Sat 31 January and Sun 1 February WWT Slimbridge Festival of Birds 2015 Come and celebrate birdwatching at this special festival, sponsored by NFU Mutual. Visit our hides to see Slimbridge’s wild reserve at its busiest time of year. Hear a range of conservation talks from experts and take part in workshops and activities over the weekend. Speakers include Mike Dilger and Ed Drewitt. Sketch swan bills, visit the Guides in

the Hides, take part in a Bird Race, see birds of prey up close. Younger visitors will enjoy making bird feeders and dissecting owl pellets. Make sure you drop in on our commentated wild bird feed in the Peng Observatory to see thousands of birds, including our enchanting Bewick’s swans. There will be many more attractions as well. 9.30am-5pm.

WA

Sun 1 and Sat 21 February Birdwatch Morning Winter is a magical

Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT 01453 891900 events.slimbridge@wwt.org.uk Prebook all paid events on 01453 891223

Tundra bean goose

Behind the scenes

‘This year, we’re running a bird race during the Festival of Birds, which should be great fun. See how many species you can spot in a single day.’ Martin McGill, Senior Reserve Warden

time on the reserve, with tens of thousands of birds here. With the guidance of our wardens, come along and enjoy this magical sight along with spotting some of the extra-special ones.

Warm clothing; boots or wellies needed.

8am. £15.95, includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll. BE RI Tues 17 and Wed 18 February Fun With Water Learn all about the water cycle, build a water filter and take part the water saving challenge. These fun

activities occurring in the middle of both days are run by Severn Trent.

There will also be a talk and Q and A session aimed at adults on conserving water.

Fri 20 February Advanced Birder Learn to assess fine details such as plumage, weather conditions and habitats to take your skills to a new level.

8am-12 noon. £27.95, includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll. BE RI Sat 28 March Crane Special Go in search of the common cranes on the

reserve with one of the wardens. This time of year is fantastic for watching these striking birds and admiring their dancing and displays.

Warm clothing; boots or wellies needed. 8am. £15.95, includes tea/ coffee and a bacon roll.

BE RI

Sat 28 March to Sun 12 April Great Duck Hunt A group of oversized ducks have decided to visit Slimbridge this Easter holidays. Can you spot them in the grounds? Pick up an activity sheet on your arrival. WA

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

49-63 DYW.indd 61

Waterlife

61

12/12/2014 15:12

D O W N YO U R WAY Washington

Pattinson, Washington, Tyne and Wear NE38 8LE 0191 416 5454 info.washington@wwt.org.uk

WWT Washington Wetland Centre Highlights Staff and volunteers at Washington are looking forward to introducing a new addition to the Easter events calendar this year, in the form of the GIANT Duck Hunt. Held alongside pond dipping and themed crafts, it forms part of a national WWT-wide event that we hope families will have loads of fun taking part in! There’s plenty to get involved with in the coming weeks, too, including a Valentine’s Day coach trip to WWT Caerlaverock and wonderful stargazing nights.

It’s hard to believe that there was a time, only a few years ago, when avocets were yet to venture as far north as Washington. Now, they’re a regular fixture on the reserve, so as February comes around, keep an eye out for them. Last year, they returned on the 23rd – will you be one of the first to spot one this year? In the meantime, there’s plenty more to look out for, with the herons returning by mid-January, and the curlews on display in huge flocks. This has also been an excellent winter for kingfishers, with increasing numbers seen on the saline lagoon. Meanwhile, in the grounds around the centre, the nenes will be pairing up soon.

The centre will be 40 years old in May and a sure sign that Washington’s woodland has matured well during that time is the number of great spotted woodpeckers that have been using it this winter. Nine have been counted in all: listen out for their territorial drumming in the weeks ahead. We’ll have more on the anniversary next issue, but here’s a quick sneak peek at what lies ahead: a walk-through aviary in Close Encounters, and improved hand-feeding areas. These will all be excellent additions to Washington, which was named the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year in November’s North East England Tourism Awards – the fourth such win in the past five years!

Avocets courting

Behind the scenes

‘Our five flamingo chicks, all parentreared, are doing really well. Do come along and see them.’

Gill Pipes, Centre Manager

Washington Events (See page 50 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/washington) Daily Activities Otter Feeds Meet our playful Asian short-clawed otters at commentated feeds.

11.30am and 3pm. WA Flamingo Feeds Learn about our Chilean flamingo flock and how it raised five chicks in 2014 for the first time in seven seasons! 11.15am and 2.45pm. WA Saturdays 3 January, 7 February, 7 March and 4 April Guide in a Hide Discover more about our wild birds with our guide. 10am-12 noon and 2-4pm. Check on arrival for details. WA

62

Waterlife

49-63 DYW.indd 62

Saturdays 24 January (Stargazing), 14 February (Caerlaverock trip), 14 March, and 11 April Junior Members Club Join junior members for monthly sessions to discover the natural world in a fun and creative way. For young WWT members aged eight to 12. 10am-12 noon. Contact Joanne Newbury on 0191 419 5933 or joanne.newbury @wwt.org.uk for details.

Saturdays 17 January, 21 February, 21 March and 18 April Walk With a Warden Join our wildlife reserve manager as he leads a

guided tour around our site. Meet at reception at 2pm. WA Fri 23 and Sat 24 January Stargazing Join Sunderland Astronomical Society (SAS) as they observe the stars from the Cygnus Observatory at WWT Washington.

Please the website, Twitter or Facebook for timings.. BE Sundays 25 January, 22 February, 22 March and 26 April Walk With a Warden Take a walk with our reserve warden as he points out the seasonal

highlights from around the site. Meet in the picture window at reception at 2pm. WA Sundays 25 January, 22 February, 22 March and 26 April In Focus Check out the latest in optical equipment and chat to the In Focus experts. Part exchanges are considered and used stock is available. A percentage of every sale is donated to WWT. Throughout the day in the picture window.

Sat 14 February Day Trip to WWT Caerlaverock Come with us as we

travel to WWT’s Scottish centre. Dress suitably for the weather and a change of shoes will be needed. £17PP and £9PC. Admission to Caerlaverock not included (WWT members free). Coach leaves at 9am, returning 5pm. BE Sat 14 to Sun 22 February February Half-term Holidays Build a bug hotel or wooden animal, design a wind chime and make a mini garden, or enjoy a minibeast hunt. Hunts 11am-12 noon and 1-2pm WA, crafts 1-3.30pm (small costs apply). UAA

Sun 15 March Mother’s Day Lunches Treat your loved one to a two-course meal in the Waterside Café. 12 noon -2pm. £15.95PP, £6.95PC. BE Call 0191 416 5454 ext 235 for menu and booking.

Fri 3 to Sun 19 April Easter Holidays Discover new life and nature blooming all around. Take part in craft activities, join in the Great Duck Hunt and go pond dipping.

Crafts 1-3.30pm (small costs apply), pond dipping 11am-noon and 1-2pm (WA); Great Duck Hunt Easter Sunday (£1). UAA

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

12/12/2014 15:12

Welney

Hundred Foot Bank, Welney, Nr Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE14 9TN 01353 860711 info.welney@wwt.org.uk

WWT Welney Wetland Centre Highlights Make sure you and your family visit WWT Welney this Easter, where you’ll be able to take part in the GIANT Duck Hunt, our twist on the Easter bunny tradition.

The onset of winter was marked by huge flocks of birds, such as golden plover, at Welney, many of which will be growing even further in January. Wherever there are large flocks, there are birds of prey, so keep your eye out for peregrines and merlins.

The centre has already enjoyed a seasonal sighting of hen harrier and rough-legged buzzard, so watch the skies! And even though the daylight hours are still short, there’s plenty to look out for as dusk approaches, including short-eared and barn owls. Listen out for flocks of redwings, too. Water rails are out and about, one being found during the centre’s bird-ringing workshop during the Festival of Swans weekend, a popular event. The hares really come into their own now, and there’s an excellent chance of seeing them boxing out on Lady Fen. The whooper swans are one of Welney’s biggest attractions, and a couple of old favourites – Wimble and Aurelie – are back once again. Look out for Zak, too, who is staying at Welney for the first time. Zak is actually a female, but gets her name from the lettering on her leg-ring, as visitors who enjoyed the centre’s swan-ring-reading workshop discovered. The Welney team will also be participating in the International Swan Census in January, providing valuable information about the population trend of Bewick’s swans.

On Valentine’s Day, you can watch the swans flying at dawn at the Swans Awake event and, during the day, you and your family can make nest boxes for your garden birds. Check the website for details, as there are even more events planned, including a wonderful stargazing evening.

Rough-legged buzzard

Behind the scenes

‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first year as warden at Welney. There have been so many highlights, such as the hen harrier in November and learning how to ride a motorbike!’

Louise Clewley, Welney Warden

Welney Events (See page 50 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/welney) Daily Activities Until Sun 8 March Swan Feed Join us for our fantastic commentated swan feeds in the afternoon.

The sight of hundreds of swans and ducks being fed at WWT Welney is enhanced further by the flight in of more swans at dusk shortly after the feeding time. 12 noon and 3.30pm. WA Thurs to Sun each week until Sat 28 February Floodlit Swan Feed Experience the evocative sight of swans gliding on the floodlit lagoon after dark. The

commentated floodlit feed is an event that can be enjoyed by the whole family as the swans get their last feed before it is time to tuck their heads under their wings for the night.

6.30pm. WA Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays in January and February Hare Walks Join us for a guided walk out on Lady Fen to get close to the hares and other wildlife.

Find out how creating wetlands has been so successful at WWT Welney and enjoy watching the hares that also take advantage of

this protected site as they get ready for the spring boxing. 1-2pm.

WA BE

Sun 1 February World Wetlands Day Activities Come and help us celebrate the diversity of our wetlands and how you can help to protect their future.

Activities for all the family. WA Sat 7 and Sun 8 February Photography Workshop Join photography expert David Featherbe for a day teaching you how to get the best from

your camera with our wintering wildfowl as your subject matter.

Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 7am-1pm. £60PP. BE Sat 7 February and Sat 7 March Willow-weaving Workshops Join expert willow weaver Jane Frost for a day teaching you how to create garden structures and basket forms from natural materials. 10am-4pm. £45PP. BE Sat 14 and Wed 18 February Swans Awake Join us before dawn

breaks across the Washes to watch thousands of swans wake up from their roosting sites on the reserve. With a warden, watch them take to the skies as they fly out to feed in the fields for the day. It’s worth the early start! Dawn event – see website for individual event times. £12PP. Optional breakfast extra. BE WP

grounds. Watch swan feeds, meet our guides and more. WA

Sat 14 to Sun 22 February Half-term Family Fun Learn about our winter migrants before they make their incredible journeys north to their summer breeding

Mon 6 April Wetland Safari Explore the reserve with guided activities to find out how amazing wetlands and their wildlife are!

Sat 28 March to Sun 12 April Easter Holiday Family Fun Take part in a hunt for some GIANT ducks that have been hidden around the site, follow the spring trail and have a go at pond dipping. WA

WA

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

49-63 DYW.indd 63

Waterlife

63

12/12/2014 15:13

Classified directory

To advertise please contact Daniel Haynes on 0208 962 1257 or daniel.haynes@thinkpublishing.co.uk

ACCOMMODATION

SLIMBRIDGE TUDOR ARMS

ABBOTSLEY CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Real Ale, Real Food Pub with 12 well appointed ensuite bedrooms ETB4* and 2 apartments.

Adjacent to WWT, CAMRA Awards from 2007-2013

AA 3star Hotel The 250 acre site is a bird spotters’ haven Dogs welcome 2 golf courses ....but.... we love non-golfers !

T: 01453 890306 E: enquiries@thetudorarms.co.uk W: www.thetudorarms.co.uk

www.abbotsley.com 01480 474000

Caerlaverock, Blossom Cottage

TudorArms_WWT_JulSept_14.indd 1

MARTIN MERE, LANCASHIRE CROOK HALL FARM COTTAGES Quiet, peaceful area, perfect for walking and bird watching. Ideally placed for visiting Martin Mere and Mere Sands Wood nature reserves and Formby Point on the coast. 4* Barn Owl Cottage sleeps 4, Maltkiln Cottage sleeps 2. www.crookhallfarmcottages.co.uk

01704 822389

CAERLAVEROCK

SLIMBRIDGE 20/05/2014 Abbotsley 11:35 Hotel_WWT_JulSept_14.indd 03/06/2014 1 Crook 11:12 Hall Farms_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 20/11/2014 1 14:40

Set in 0.25 acres of secluded private gardens with views out over the solway firth, 4 star accommodation for 7 + 1. Situated 1 mile from Caerlaverock Castle. Wildfowl and Wetlands trust (WWT), National Nature Reserves and Caerlaverock Estate all within 1/4 mile.

The Barnacle Geese can be seen from the comfort of the sun room in the field at front along with an abundance of wildlife including bats, badgers and deer.

www.hollinscottage.co.uk (sleeps 4) also www.blossomcottage.co.uk (sleeps 8) E-mail: jamiecowan2000@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 07711583320 Web Site: www.blossomholidaycottage.co.uk

Self-catering ground floor accommodation in Glencaple close to WWT. Sleeps 2 - double bedroom and multi-fuel stove.

Recently renovated to high standard. In winter Barnacles are ever-present. A nature-lover’s paradise. www.glencapleholiday.co.uk Tel: 01387 770348 Email: sue_greig@yahoo.co.uk

FORESTERS B&B OFFERS!

18th-century former village Inn five minutes from Slimbridge. ETC 3 star.

Laura Ashley beamed spacious ensuite bedrooms (1 four poster). Stay Sun - Fri any three nights for £29 per person per night. Stay 4 nights get 5th for £20.

1 nt £74 dble £50 single Many attractions including NT in easy travelling distance.

Vicky Jennings T: 01453 549996 E: foresters@freeuk.com W: www.forestersbandb.co.uk

PEMBROKESHIRE

PRIDING ON RIVER SEVERN

Sue 11:03 Greig_WWT_OctDec_14.indd 103/09/2014 12:27 08/12/2014 ROSEMOOR Foresters_WWT_OctDec_14.indd 1

Blossom_WWT_JanMar15.indd 1

COUNTRY COTTAGES

The Old Cider House 3* Cottage sleeps 2 one double bedroom Paradise for walkers and birdwatchers, tranquil location on the Severn Way, watch the Severn Bore, picnic or BBQ beside the river. In the evening listen to the Owls and see the stars, walk along the river-bank to the Pub. www.pridingfarm.com 01452 741613

Holiday Cottages Properties throughout Scotland Discover your Scotland in 2015, Bird Watching, Wildlife, Outdoor Pursuits, Sandy Beaches, Scottish Culture and Heritage or to simply relax & get away from it all!

There’s something for everyone!

01556 504030 discoverscotland.net

08/09/2014 09:42

In a lovely valley in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Victorian-built Rosemoor offers characterful accommodation in spacious grounds. Unpolluted beaches, Skomer and tidal wetlands nearby (2 miles). Our own 30-acre Nature Reserve is home to badgers, otters and a great variety of birds and plants.

John M. and Jacqui Janssen Rosemoor Country Cottages & Nature Reserve Walwyn’s Castle Haverfordwest SA62 3ED

Tel: 01437-781326 Fax: 01437-781080 E-mail: rosemoor@walwynscastle.com www.rosemoor.com

WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS OldCiderHouse_WWT_AprJun_14.indd 21/02/2014 1 09:15

PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK Rosemoor_WWT_JulSep13.indd

1

06/09/2013 10:30

Glebe Corner, Marloes

Sunny, spacious bungalow near spectacular cliffs and beaches with excellent birdwatching throughout the year. Nearest village to Skomer, Skokholm and Grassholm Islands boat departure point. Close to clifftop sites for spring and autumn migrants and autumn seal pups, with winter wildfowl and waders at Marloes Mere and Pickleridge Lagoons, Dale.

Glebe Corner is a quiet, comfortable 2-bed 2-bath bungalow on the edge of Marloes. Village shop, pub, cafe and coastal bus.

Good value weeks and short breaks in spring, autumn and winter.

www.selfcateringmarloes.co.uk

64 Waterlife JANUARY/MARCH 2015 Jane Warr_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 1

CLASS_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 64

Denis Bohm_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 1 11/12/2014 14:35

05/11/2014 09:57

12/12/2014 15:27

CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY

EQUIPMENT

WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS

FOR SALE

R FO

E L A S

CAERLAVEROCK QUALITY- OF- LIFE CHANGER Wake up to barnacle geese calling overhead, stunning views over the Solway Firth, Caerlaverock, the Criffel & Lake District hills. Enjoy spectacular sunsets, starlit night skies.

Woodland and shore walks from your door. Yet Dumfries & Carlisle close by. 4 bed bungalow ‘Greenbank’ Clarencefield www.zoopla.co.uk Selling agent 01387 201049

GALAPAGOS ADVENTURE TOURS LATIN AMERICA & ANTARCTICA 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE 0207 407 1478 www.selectlatinamerica.co.uk info@selectlatinamerica.co.uk ATOL PROTECTED 3760

Select_Ad_WTT_OctDec13.indd 1 Isobel Gibson_WWT_JanMar_14.indd20/11/2014 1 10:56

03/09/2014 11:04

All inclusive tours exploring a wide range of stunning habitats from S. French Alps, Crau & Camargue wetlands for Eagles, Wallcreeper, Vultures, Beeeaters, Eagle Owls, Flamingos, Beaver, Orchids & Butterflies.

All ages & abilities welcome!

Wales, puffins, red kites and thousands of starlings, seals, otters, dolphins sights and sounds to remember forever

18 yrs. experience of year round tours, superb Provençale cuisine, comfortable accommodation.

Local & scientific knowledge

From single days out to week-long holidays throughout the year, contact: 0845 052 3533 info@welshwildlifebreaks.co.uk www.welshwildlifebreaks.co.uk

Brochure: Wildlife Provencale Tel: 01706 225407 www.wildlifeprovencale.com

Wildlife provencale_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 19/11/2014 1 10:54 30/08/2013 10:57 WWB_WWT_JulAug13.indd 1

THE BIRDERS STORE

Shoot Photogrpahy_WWT_OctDec.indd 1

We stock one of the largest ranges of optics, books, DVDs and accessories including Barr & Stroud, Celestron, Country Innovation, Cullmann, Eagle Optics, Hawke, Kite, Kowa, Minox, Optech, Opticron, Steiner, Swarovski, Tilley, Velbon, Vortex and Zess.

CRUISE THE HEBRIDES

06/06/2013 17:11

Puffins, porpoises, deer & dolphins & seals, seabirds, whales & wild flowers,

spectacular scenery,

good company, great meals. “light carbon footprint” sailing holiday on the famous 65ft yacht

CORRYVRECKAN 0845 260 2677 www.corryvreckan.co.uk

Quote NTW1 for your special offer when booking.

BIRDING IN ANDALUCIA

Fantastic birding, wildlife, peace and beauty, in hidden Spain.

Our Andalucian Corryvreckan_WWT_175.indd farmhouse provides the ideal setting for the bird-watching holiday you deserve.

To see our 2014 offers and book your next holiday, visit our web-site at:

Yacht Corryvreckan_WWT_JulySept_13.indd 1

7 King Charles Place, St John’s, Worcester WR2 5AJ Tel: 01905 312 312877 Email: sales@birders-store.co.uk Open: 9am to 4am Tuesday to Saturday Birders Store_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 1

CLASS_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 65

31/05/2013 14:37 1

23/11/2010 15:32

Web: www.birdhols.com Email: george@birdhols.com Tel:+441253467107. Mob:+447856819291

Bird 15:24 Hols_WWT_JanMar_14.indd 1 12/12/2014

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

Waterlife 65 15:28 22/08/2014

12/12/2014 15:28

B AC K C H AT

A MONTH OF FUNDAYS

January is the month when many birdwatchers start their new year list at a WWT centre.

Member James Millar does the same thing… but with a twist New Year’s Day, 2010, and I was taking a walk to shake off the effects of the night before. I live in Gloucestershire, and as I wandered through the fields, I saw a flash of white. I took a second glance, and there was a little egret, its brilliant plumage standing out against the dullness of the day. Having grown up in Scotland, where I enjoyed my birdwatching at a very amateurish level, I just stood and admired the exotic nature of a bird that I could never have hoped to see in my childhood.

It was the first day of the first month of a new year and, with that sense of renewal that creates resolutions, I decided it would be a good idea to start my life list from scratch and try to see a new bird for every month of 2010. WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre was just down the road from me, providing me with plenty of opportunities, and as 2010 drew to a close, I’d managed 118 species, including a new one each month. I fancied pushing on for more.

I’m still going. Five years later, I’ve seen 247 species, including a new one every month, and Slimbridge has been invaluable. Like most people, I have to fit birdwatching around my daily work and family routine, but I use the Slimbridge updates to find out what’s going on there, and watch the Wildlife Weekly videos, and then plan my trips with my fingers crossed. I’ve seen my first bittern there, my first Cetti’s warbler, glossy ibis, spotted redshank, and many more.

The whole thing, of course, is just a bit of personal fun, and at some point I’ll end up with my first fruitless month, but there is another side to it all. Until I began this pursuit, I would have

66

Waterlife

66 Back chat.indd 66

James Millar at WWT Slimbridge and (inset) a little egret

Shutterstock

It all began with the little egret. It was

I’ve become so much better at identification these past few years, and I’ve got to know more about bird behaviour, which is fascinating described myself as a pretty amateurish birdwatcher: a large, brown wader with a downturned beak might have been a curlew or a whimbrel, and I’d have left it at that. But I’ve become so much better at identification these past few years, and I’ve got to know more about bird behaviour, which is fascinating. Plus, of course, when you’re looking for birds, you see so much more. I’ve enjoyed watching the cranes dance and the massed flocks of geese in the winter –

so reminiscent of my youth in Scotland.

There’s also the self-motivation aspect: I lead a busy life, but this hobby ensures that I get out and about to enjoy nature.

Whereas in the past, if I had a free afternoon, I might merely consider popping out to watch wildlife, now I definitely will. I’ve almost accidentally introduced a new level of discipline, and I’m loving it.

I wonder which new species I’ll discover at Slimbridge this January.

JANUARY/MARCH 2015

09/12/2014 16:37

Discover

Canada’s wild side with the experts Whether you’d like to see grizzly bears at Knight Inlet or orcas off Vancouver Island, humpback whales around Newfoundland or polar bears in Churchill, we know Canada’s pristine wilderness and its wildlife inside out.

Choose from our wide range of tailor made self-drives, escorted group tours and coastal voyages to explore Canada’s vast and unspoilt beauty, home to some of the planet’s most amazing animal and bird life.

Contact our Travel Specialists today

© Shea Wyatt

© DestinationBC

© AndreasEdelmann

01737 214 255 7845 067_WWT_JanMar_15.indd DTW WWT FP V4.indd 67 1

18/11/2014 09/12/2014 12:10 11:43

Binoculars & Telescopes Explorer WA

Verano BGA HD

Smaller, lighter, brighter and sharper, the Explorer WA offers the opportunity to own and use a binocular with an unbeatable combination of performance, specification, ergonomics and build quality. With impressive wide-angle 7.5° (8x42) and 6.5° (10x42) fields of view and high quality optical system (PC, MC), images are clear and crisp with good colour contrast.

100% made in Japan and featuring an HD optical system for sensational images and superb colour contrast, the Verano BGA HD guarantees you the highest levels of comfort and performance whenever and wherever you use them.

Housed in a lightweight magnesium body and protected in a tactile rubber covering for extra comfort, Explorer WA binoculars are supplied with a comprehensive 10 year guarantee.

8x42 £209, 10x42 £219

NEW MM3 GA ED

8x32 £429, 8x42 £439, 10x42 £449

IS 60 WP Fieldscopes The IS 60 WP is the perfect choice for the space and weight conscious birdwatcher looking for an affordable, flexible and upgradeable waterproof spottingscope to compliment their binoculars. 10 year guarantee.

A new level of performance for less than you might think, the MM3 GA ED are the latest evolution of the travelscope concept pioneered by us nearly 20 years ago.

Bodies (Str or 45˚): MM3 50 GA ED £299, MM3 60 GA ED £399 Recommended eyepieces: HDF T 12-36x/15-45x £199 SDLv2 12-36x/15-45x £289

Save up to 25%

on selected IS 60 WP kits(1) IS 60 WP + IS 25xWA + WP Case £199 IS 60 WP + IS 18-54x + WP Case £229 IS 60 WP + IS 18-54x + WP Case + Velbon Sherpa 200R Tripod £299 Kits are available in straight through or 45˚ angled from stockists nationwide.

Please call us for details. (1) Saving compared to buying items separately.

Opticron equipment can be tried, tested and purchased at WWT centres and good optical retailers nationwide. For product information, your nearest stockist and to order a Product Guide, phone us on 01582 726522 or visit us online at www.opticron.co.uk Opticron. Unit 21, Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Beds, LU4 8EF UK Fax: 01582 723559 Email: sales@opticron.co.uk

068_WWT_JanMar_15.indd Waterlife Jan-Mar 15.indd 1 68

09/12/2014 20/11/2014 11:44 14:44