Waterlife January - March 2016

waterlife 195 JANUARY/MARCH 2016

waterlife The magazine of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust | 195 Jan/Mar 2016 | £4.25 | wwt.org.uk

RING OUT THE BELLS! IT’S WWT’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY!

PLUS

BLUE PETER BUILDS FOR WILDLIFE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE wwt.org.uk

THE CRANE CHICKS CHANGE HAVEMAKE MADEAIT!

TEN TOP RESOLUTIONS PAGE 24 TO MAKE FOR 2016

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PAGE 65

PHOTO COMPETITION WE SHOWCASE THE BEST OF YOUR PICTURES

PHOTO COMP CAPITAL GAINS YOUR LAST CHANCE ENHANCING THE WETLAND TO ENTER FOR 2015 LIFE OF URBAN COLOMBO

04/12/2015 14:37

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in focus SALES EVENTS

‘Test under field conditions’

NORTH AND MIDLANDS

Barns at Beal, overlooking Holy Island, Northumberland 21st Feb / 20th Mar / 17th Apr Hauxley Nature Reserve, Northumberland 14th Feb / 13th Mar / 10th Apr Low Barns Nature Reserve, Co Durham 17th Jan / 20th Mar North Cave Wetlands, East Yorkshire 7th Feb / 3rd Apr Washington WWT, Tyne and Wear 24th Jan / 28th Feb / 27th Mar / 24th Apr

SOUTH AND EAST

Arundel WWT, West Sussex 19th Jan / 14th Feb / 23rd Feb / 13th Mar / 22nd Mar / 10th Apr / 19th Apr Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, East Sussex 17th Jan / 28th Feb / 20th Mar / 17th Apr Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Kent 30th Jan / 30th Apr Welney WWT, Norfolk 16th Jan / 13th Feb / 9th Apr

SOUTH AND WEST

Blashford Lakes, Ringwood, Hampshire 9th Feb / 8th Mar / 5th Apr Exmouth Nature Reserve, Exe Estuary 7th Feb / 6th Mar / 3rd Apr Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset 20th Feb / 26th Mar / 23rd Apr Steart Marshes WWT, Somerset 6th Feb / 29th Mar

WALES AND SCOTLAND

Llanelli WWT, Carmarthenshire 24th Jan / 21st Feb / 27th Mar / 24th Apr Caerlaverock WWT 31st Jan / 6th Mar A good range of optics available seven days a week at the WWT shop Caerlaverock

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CONTENTS

YEAR OF THE POND

Ponds are a haven for wildlife and an exciting addition to a garden

To launch this very special year, the 70th

anniversary of WWT, we’re suggesting on page 20 a number of resolutions you could adopt that could help make this a very special year for you, too. Here’s another: why not make this the year that you help to improve wetland wildlife across the country by building or enhancing your very own pond?

Whether it’s in your garden, the grounds of your children’s school or your local park, each pond plays its part in the network of small waterbodies across the nation that make vital oases for wetland wildlife, particularly in urban areas. A well-built and managed pond provides a home for insect life, as well as valuable drinking water for birds and mammals alike.

Plus, of course, they’re things of beauty.

If you have a garden, being able to look out of the window and see clumps of frogspawn, darting dragonflies and damselflies, and birds sipping from the water’s edge is a wonderful way to start your day.

Late winter is a good time to start building a pond, and if you’d like some hints and tips to get you going, why not have a chat with one of our volunteers next time you visit a WWT wetland centre? It’s a great way to make sure that 2016 is a year to remember, for yourself and for wildlife, too!

In this issue...

4 7 16 18 20 24 27 30 37 40 42 45 65

Front lines Martin Spray launches WWT’s 70th anniversary Waterways News and views from the world of WWT Netlands Our regular overview of WWT’s online world Wigeon post Your letters, plus our crossword and competition WWT and you Ten resolutions to help you make the most of 2016 Private life Exciting new milestones for the scaly-sided merganser Home from home What are your greatest WWT inspirations?

Photo competition The best of the best of your wonderful images Flight path WWT’s urban success story in Colombo, Sri Lanka Wonderful world Amazing tales from behind the scenes at WWT Kids’ zone Steve Backshall on the feeding behaviour of ducks Down your way All the news and events at your local centre Back chat Blue Peter’s Barney Harwood turns to brick-building

On the cover: Water vole by Terry Whittaker/FLPA

WWT is the 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 45 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 Fauré Editorial board: Ray Clark, Baz Hughes, David Salmon, Rob Shore, Mark Simpson, Fiona Williams Editor: Malcolm Tait malcolm.tait@thinkpublishing.co.uk Senior sub-editor: Marion Thompson Designer: Mark Davies Senior sales executive: Daniel Haynes daniel.haynes@thinkpublishing.co.uk 020 3771 7214 Publisher: John Innes Think, Capital House, 25 Chapel Street, London NW1 5DH 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 2014: 92,949

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Š Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

FRONT LINES

Peter Scott in the 1940s

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CELEBRATING THE PAST BY LOOKING FORWARD Martin Spray CBE, WWT Chief Executive This year is yet another landmark in the history of our great organisation.

Seventy years ago, in November 1946, the newly formed trustee council of the Severn Wildfowl Trust met at The Patch House, adjacent to the Sharpness Canal at Slimbridge. I wonder whether those present had any idea of what the organisation would achieve in future years in terms of the four pillars on which it was established – Conservation, Research, Education and Recreation. Indeed, would they have anticipated the groundbreaking achievements and resulting respect of the coming years?

Looking back, there is a huge amount to celebrate and take pride in, and so much is thanks to you, our members.

There are more than 200,000 of you, supporting our centres and the newly opened Steart Marshes, and our species and wetland habitat conservation work.

Your support is our lifeblood.

In the true spirit of all involved over these years, it is the future that occupies our thinking and ambitions. The challenges for our natural environment – our one and only

life-support system – are growing rapidly and, building on the legacy of WWT’s achievements, I believe that the organisation will have an even greater role to play throughout the next 70 years.

The State of Nature report, compiled and launched in 2013 by a wide-ranging consortium of conservation organisations, revealed that 60% of UK species we know about are in decline and that, in the case of 30%, the decline is dramatic. This is our country, where conservation is relatively well developed and our long-standing tradition of interest in natural history is respected across the world. Yet we are still depleting our natural heritage. Along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the most important migratory flyways in the world and now a major priority for WWT’s attention, coastal developments and trapping for food are destroying populations of waterbirds. The spoon-billed sandpiper, subject of major work we are undertaking, is just one species impacted by this.

We see climate change discussed by governments across the world, but action and targets to reduce our impact seem to be continually shifting in the wrong direction. Recent UK changes, such as the cancellation of the zero-carbon homes policy, sit awkwardly alongside ambitious rhetoric for a strong global deal.

Proposed changes to support

for renewable energy could set back important UK low-carbon industries just when they are beginning to thrive. In the meantime, the rush for economic growth in many developed and developing nations continues unabated, while poverty in others has an equally negative impact on the environment, often increasing the misery of innocent people’s lives.

Here in the UK, the government has announced that it intends to produce a 25-year plan to restore biodiversity. This is to be welcomed, and it is also pleasing that the government wants to involve non-governmental organisations like WWT in the process. We are already helping in the development of the plan and I hope that we can collectively bring about a strong plan for nature.

It is essential that this strategy is not just about conserving what we have, but about actual reversal of the declines and restoration to previous levels. We will continue to contribute to ensure that wetlands are high on the agenda in respect of their importance for biodiversity and for the benefits they provide our society.

As always, the action undertaken must outweigh the words.

So, 70 years on, WWT has even more determination and ambition to make a difference for our natural world. With your continuing support, for which we are so very grateful, we can achieve so much.

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cities | scenery | culture | heritage | events | seasons

Yorkshire by Steam Discover glorious Yorkshire, from the edge of the rugged Dales to its spectacular coastline, via its majestic moorland. Take in ancient York, discover delightful Brontë country and embark on scenic heritage railway journeys.

Itinerary (for full details visit www.raildiscoveries.com/YHS) Day 1 Harrogate Your tour begins in Harrogate, an attractive Georgian spa town. Here you meet your Tour Manager before dinner.

Day 2 York Enjoy a guided walking tour of York today, seeing landmarks such as the magnificent Minster, and the quaint Shambles. Following the tour you are free. The National Railway Museum (entry free), with its large collection of carriages and locomotives, should not be missed. For a unique view of York, walk along the 13th century city walls.

Day 3 North Yorkshire Take the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Pickering, travelling in heritage carriages through the breathtaking North York Moors, to Whitby. You pass through Goathland, or ‘Aidensfield’ from TV’s Heartbeat, en route. Crowned by its brooding abbey, and famous as the setting for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Whitby boasts some of the UK’s finest fish and chip restaurants. Enjoy free time here to explore.

Day 4 Oxenhope Enjoy a nostalgic journey on the heritage Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. The steam-hauled* trip takes you up the Worth Valley to Oxenhope, passing the rugged hills, rustic stone cottages and wild farmland immortalised in the 1970 film ‘The Railway Children’, which was filmed here.

FLIGHT-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS ARE ATOL PROTECTED, NON FLIGHTINCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS ARE FINANCIALLY PROTECTED BY ABTA.

BOOK WITH 100%

CONFIDENCE

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Later, continue to picturesque Haworth.

Here you visit the Brontë Parsonage, the home of the famous literary sisters. It was here that the Brontës were inspired to write their novels.

Day 5 Harrogate After breakfast you are free to depart from Harrogate, but perhaps take the time to visit Betty’s Tea Rooms or the well-known spa first. *Steam-hauled wherever possible

5 DAYS from £325 NO HIDDEN EXTRAS: • Fully escorted by a UK Tour Manager from start to finish • 4 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast • Centrally located hotel • 4 dinners • Guided tour of York • Keighley & Worth Valley Steam Railway • The Brontë Parsonage • The North Yorkshire Moors Railway • Excursion to Whitby

Departures 18, 24, 31 Mar 16 7, 14, 21, 24 Apr 16 28, 29 Apr 16 2, 5, 12, 19 May 16 2, 9, 16 Jun 16 20, 23, 30 Jun 16 4, 8, 14 Jul 16 22, 25, 28 Jul 16

Price £345 £365 £365 £375 £375 £375 £385 £375

Departures 4, 5, 12 Aug 16 19, 25, 29 Aug 16 1, 5, 8, 19 Sep 16 26, 29 Sep 16 6 Oct 16 10 Oct 16 13 Oct 16 20 Oct 16

Price £365 £385 £385 £385 £365 £385 £345 £325

Dates and prices are subject to availability. Prices shown are per person, based on 2 people sharing. Prices may change prior to and after publication.

Itinerary may differ depending on the departure date you choose - please call for details. Terms and conditions apply. Calls will be recorded.

• All tour itinerary admission costs

Call us now to book or request a brochure

01904 730623 www.raildiscoveries.com Our tour advisors are here 7 days a week

07/12/2015 09:37

WWT NEWS

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

OUT OF THE COLD

The early Bewick’s swan was an unnamed bird paying its first solo visit to Slimbridge.

So what name was it given?

There could really only be one option: Record-breaker.

Sacha Dench/WWT

Martin McGill/WWT

It’s not often that a single bird sparks a flurry of national news activity, and is even used in promotions for clothing! But then, it’s not often that a Bewick’s swan arrives at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre as early as 11 October. The bird that dropped in at that date was, in fact, the earliest Slimbridge arrival since records began more than half a century ago – and the media went wild.

The reason? Bewick’s swans set off from their Russian Arctic grounds when the cold weather begins to hit. As the chill factor follows them across Europe, the earlier they arrive here, the greater the speculation that we’re in for a long, hard winter. No fewer than 147 news outlets eagerly reported the story, while one website even took the opportunity to promote

THE NAME GAME

various winter garments on the back of it. Interestingly, however, despite that early arrival, the remaining Bewick’s swans took a little longer than usual to arrive, several of them settling in the Netherlands before continuing their journey west. The

THAT’S A RELIEF! One year after its creation, and just around the time it was officially opened to the public, WWT Steart Marshes in Somerset has already proved its worth. At the end of September, the biggest Bristol Channel tides in over a decade would have heavily battered the old sea wall defences, but this newly created area of marshland, designed to absorb tides rather than resist them, simply soaked up the water. Now that it’s open to visitors, why not come and take a look? For further information, simply visit wwt.org.uk/steart.

cold snap of late November pushed them on, however, and as Waterlife went to print, numbers were building.

You can enjoy watching the daily swan feeds at Slimbridge until the end of February. For details, visit wwt.org. uk/slimbridge-wild-bird-feed.

On a autumn tihidgh marshes hold ae,rothe und 4.2 mill metres ofiownatcuerbic – enough e Royal AlbtoerfitllHth 50 times over.all

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WWT NEWS

INTO AFRICA WWT has signed up another partner to our Corporate Patrons scheme, which provides a way for businesses to support our work and develop a long-term partnership with us.

OASIS® Floral Products is the UK’s leading manufacturer and marketer of floral foam, floral foam accessories and other products, and is based just around the corner from WWT Washington Wetland Centre.

OASIS® Floral Products is very keen to support WWT’s global conservation and education work. In fact, its main product, that green foam that you insert flowers into, is already helping the team at WWT Washington.

Reserve managers at Washington use OASIS® Floral Foam to help record mammal numbers on-site by topping the foam with clay, which is kept wet by the foam, to collect prints from animals such as otters.

‘I am delighted that OASIS® Floral Products has become a patron of WWT Washington,’ says Vice President and Managing Director Stephen Short.

‘The protection of wetlands is extremely important, and we look forward to working with WWT Washington to do our bit to help preserve and protect this precious and mightily important natural space.’

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Elephants arrive for a drink, while a lion (inset) rests nearby

Chobe, is also the most diverse. An afternoon boat trip on the river will always be remembered by everyone for a ferocious hippo fight, close encounters with crocodiles, monitor lizards raiding pied kingfisher nest holes, the airborne grace of African skimmers and thousands of white-faced whistling ducks flying to roost.

‘The final leg of our adventure certainly lived up to expectations as we crossed the Zambezi into Zambia to visit Victoria Falls, which is one of the seven wonders of the natural world,’ says Dave.

Travelling companions Denise and Mark were absolutely delighted with the adventure, saying: ‘It was a deeply satisfying experience.’

And repeat we will, as another Wetland & Wildlife Safari will take place from 28 September to 11 October 2016.

For every guest, Elephant Trails makes a kind donation to WWT. For information and booking, please contact dave.fairlamb@wwt.org.uk.

Fish eagle Graeme Ruthven

FOAM FRIENDS

In July 2015, WWT Arundel Wetland Centre’s Dave Fairlamb and artist Desiree Hart led an exclusive 10-day safari to one of the world’s most important wetlands – the Okavango Delta in Botswana. This impressive area is one of the seven natural wonders of Africa and home to 200,000 large mammals and around 500 species of bird.

‘Hosted by specialist wildlife tour operator Elephant Trails Safari Co, our truly memorable journey began in the Moremi Game Reserve, and it was not long before we encountered elephants, giraffes, lions and more,’ says Dave.

‘Every expanse of water was a magnet for spoonbills, ibises, herons, egrets and storks, with hippos and crocodiles looking on, and a boat trip on the Khwai River brought close-up views of sitatungas, Cape clawless otters, African darters, pygmy geese and fish eagles.

‘As we travelled into the Savuti region of the Chobe National Park in northern Botswana, the predators really began to show their teeth,’ he continues.

‘Overnight, a large lion pride had taken down two buffalo, and the interaction around the kills between the lions and the supporting cast of hyenas, jackals and vultures was fascinating. Even a leopard came close to the action at one point!’

Botswana’s first national park, the

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2012: 9 birds

2013: 18 birds

2014: 26 birds

2015: 28 birds

PROVIDING A HEAD START The spoon-billed sandpiper is a charismatic, yet Critically Endangered, bird, and there are many reasons why its numbers can be counted in triple figures only. One of the problems that the little bird faces is that, in its breeding grounds of Far East Russia, due to predation and climate, of every 20 eggs laid, only three chicks survive to adulthood. That’s a terrible 15% success rate.

These are natural problems about which little can be done, but we can at least provide a helping hand. For the

past four years, therefore, our experts have been running a process called headstarting. This involves carefully taking eggs from incubating birds into captivity, hatching them in safety and hand-raising the chicks to fledging age, before releasing them back into the wild. By nursing the eggs and young birds in this way, their chance of survival leaps from that paltry 15% to 85%.

The programme has gone from strength to strength, with more birds successfully headstarted with

each passing year, and in 2015 a new record was created with 28. In addition, last year, for the first time, some birds reared under the headstarting programme had their own young, too.

WWT – and those spoon-billed sandpipers that would not exist without headstarting – thank all of you for your support for this vital programme.

To find out more about the project, simply visit wwt.org.uk/ sbs, and to sponsor a spoonie, visit adoption.wwt.org.uk.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER Meet Jonny Lawson, a volunteer Guide in the Hide at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. You can also find him conducting Dawn Chorus walks at the centre, and his passion for birds, which he fits in around his day job as a secondary school teacher, is truly infectious.

‘Volunteering is a brilliant thing to do,’ he says. ‘It’s a great way to put something back into the community, and you’re constantly learning new things as you go along. As a volunteer, it’s very important to engage with people, and nurture their own enthusiasm – as with my teaching role, I find that each person has their own level of interest and it’s exciting trying to stimulate them to explore the next level.’

This year, Jonny is stepping up a gear, and it’s due to become the busiest year of his life. ‘I’ve set myself a target of visiting each of the WWT wetland centres in 2016, and recording as many bird species as I possibly can.’

That’s not all – he’s getting married, too. ‘My fiancée, Emily, is a bit bemused by my ambition, but she’s looking forward to the various holidays we’ll have together up and down the country.’

It’s going to be quite a year, and you can follow Jonny’s progress at whatwasthatbird. wordpress.com.

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

Why not turn to page 20, where we have a host of great ideas?

And if you’re thinking of volunteering yourself with WWT this year, simply visit wwt.org.uk/ volunteer.

Kate the kingfisher is new to the brick animal trail

BRICK WORKS Are you following the LEGO® brick trail? These amazing constructs are touring the land, spending their time at one WWT centre after another. Where will they appear next? Well, they’re currently at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, then, from 13 February, they’ll be at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre.

On 24 March, in time for Easter, they’ll arrive at WWT Washington.

To follow the trail as new dates are announced, visit wwt.org.uk/ LEGObrickanimals. And to find out which children’s TV star helped to move the animals to Martin Mere, turn to page 65.

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WWT NEWS WWT is supporting the Duck Specialist Group network to study the structure of the pochard population to find out how it has changed

POCHARDS TAKE A DIVE The name of the common pochard is beginning to lose its validity. This diving duck has declined so rapidly that the IUCN Red List, which measures the risk of extinction of the world’s species, in 2015 upgraded the bird’s status to Vulnerable.

‘We need to find out why it has declined so much – are more birds dying, or are fewer young being produced in the first place?’ says WWT’s Head of Monitoring, Rich Hearn. ‘The survival of females could be an important part of ongoing changes to the population, so this January volunteers across Europe and North Africa will be counting the ratio of males versus females at wintering locations.’ Sadly, it is not alone. The latest Red List, which was announced in the autumn, revealed that the red knot, bar-tailed godwit, curlew sandpiper, oystercatcher and lapwing, all of which can be seen on WWT reserves, have been stepped up to Near Threatened status, just one level lower than Vulnerable.

FRESH LOOKS WASHINGTON HIDE AN ALL-ROUND WINNER The wildlife of the saline lagoon and surrounding area of WWT Washington Wetland Centre is wonderful to watch, and soon there’ll be a marvellous new hide to watch it from. The 16-sided structure, which provides views virtually in the round, is due to open in the spring, giving you the opportunity to admire the otters, roe deer, breeding oystercatcher and teal, and more, that use the lagoon and the River Wear behind it.

The view to the left of the new hide will reveal the lagoon, while the one straight ahead will look out across the Wear. Turn to the right, and you’ll be able to watch the denizens of the reedbed, which,

at this time of year, include reed buntings and water rails.

Rather than use concrete, the entire structure will be supported by gabions – cages or baskets filled with rocks that drain easily. Built on top of a hill for even better views, the hide is being blended into the background by the use of a turf roof and bunded sides.

Once you step inside, you will find tethered binoculars and information, as well as regular Guide in the Hide

The view from the new hide

events, to help you make the most of your wildlife-watching at Washington.

The new Washington hide has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other generous funders.

The new Washington hide in the round

East Elevation (1:50) 1200mm dia polycarbonate dome skylight (details t.b.a.)

Roof details ref WA99027/6

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JANUARY/MARCH 2016 Earth bund/gabion detail ref WA88027/7

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Window details ref WA88027/8

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WWT NEWS

INSIDE THE HIDE Welcome to the brandnew WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre Discovery Hide, shown here on its opening day in November.

The view that you can see here is of the Discovery Lounge, a spacious, comfortable area with wonderful views out onto the reserve. It’s the perfect place for families to gather and watch wildlife through the large viewing windows, which open up onto the vistas across the wetlands.

On the right, visitors will find the entrance to the Goose Wing, where more information can be found about the geese that visit the reserve, and beyond that is the Birders Wing, for the more expert birdwatchers and

Visitors enjoy the views from the Martin Mere Wetland Centre

photographers. There is also a Swan Wing, which provides backgrounds to the swan families that visit Martin Mere, as well as fascinating facts about how we identify them in the field, manage the reserve and protect wildlife.

The whole structure has been built from sustainable Scandinavian timber.

If you’ve not seen it yet, do come along

AUTUMNWATCH UNCOVERED! What a wonderful week the Autumnwatch week was! Viewers were treated to amazing wildlife scenes from WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, where the show was filmed, and visitors flocked to see the main presenters, Chris, Michaela and Martin. If you watched the programmes, you’ll have enjoyed the behind-the-scenes details. Would you like a little more? Of course you would.

It was mentioned on air that one of Caerlaverock’s whoopers had been named Obi-Swan Kenobi, and the presenters wondered what name could be given to his mate.

Well, she’s now been named: Princess Layer!

Here’s another titbit. Chris was on a cake fast throughout the week, fighting the temptation to join Martin in a slice of something delicious from the

AUTU M NWATCH IN N U M BE RS

2.4m

Average nightly viewing figures

and try it. You’ll find that Martin Mere’s new Discovery Hide is just perfect for all levels of wildlife-watching.

The Martin Mere Discovery Hide has been kindly funded by Lancashire Environmental Fund, Cargill, Lord Leverhulme’s Charitable Trust, a generous legacy, support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery and donations from WWT members.

Chris, Martin and the tempting slice of cake

Caerlaverock café. He finally gave in on the Friday, however, tucking in to a tasty lemon drizzle cake.

Through social media, WWT reached over one million people during the week

100 BBC crew at Caerlaverock

40 pumpkins used on set

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THE RUGGED REGIONS OF FRANCE & SPAIN 5%

Discount for Waterlife Magazine readers

Explore the rugged landscapes of rural France and the breathtaking scenery of Northern Spain on board the Braemar. Her smaller size enables you to get up close to your ports of call, with an itinerary you can tailor to perfectly suit.

La Rochelle, from La Pallice, is a lively well-preserved city, offering an appealing mix of timbered houses and lush greenery.

We recommend you to take a trip to Marais Poitevin – or ‘Green Venice’ – as you sail the enchanting marshlands on a traditional boat. Keep a look out for herons, kingfishers, deer and more.

Docking right in the heart of the city, it is easy to take in the highlights of beautiful Bordeaux, a region famed for producing high quality wines; a visit here wouldn’t be complete without a tasting. The UNESCO ‘Pearl of Aquitaine’ is ranked by Fred. Olsen guests as the best destination on the Iberian Peninsula.

Visit the coastal wetlands of Urdaibai, whilst docked in Bilbao (from Getxo).

This region is within one of the main migration routes making spring one of the best seasons to visit, this coastal wetland truly is a bird magnet. Cape Machichaco, 15 miles from Bilbao is a great point for birdwatching of pelagic migration.

Montoir-de-Bretagne is ideally situated for visiting nearby Saint-Nazaire with almost 125,000 acres of peaty land, canals and endless horizons make for one of France’s most important wetlands.

Saint-Nazaire lays on the edge of the Brière with swamps and canals being part of the town’s natural heritage.

THE RUGGED REGIONS OF FRANCE & SPAIN 14th May 2016 • 7 nights • Braemar • Southampton • M1612

From £799pp Southampton, La Rochelle, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Montoir-de-Bretagne, Southampton

This discount applies to all* Fred. Olsen cruises, so if this doesn’t suit you visit www.fredolsencruises.com to see all our itineraries.

Call us now on 0800

0355 110 or book online at www.fredolsencruises.com and Quote: WWT5 to redeem your discount

*These terms and conditions are in addition to Fred. Olsen’s standard Terms and Conditions which are available on our website, www.fredolsencruises.com and on request. Both must be read before booking. All offers may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice and are subject to availability. FOCL may, from time to time, run special offers which cannot be combined with this “member discount”.

All prices quoted under this “member discount” offer as exclusively available to qualifying staff members and their travelling companions. This offer must not be extend to any unrelated third party. All guests booked under this scheme are requested to refrain from disclosing the fare they have paid to any other persons on board. You must quote your Discount Code at time of booking and discount will not be applied retrospectively. Bookings can only be made direct with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Single supplement is 100%. Child supplement is 100%. Cruise price includes cruise, meals, entertainment, port charges & all taxes. Travel insurance, gratuities & personal expenses are not included. All bookings are bound by the full Terms & Conditions shown in the current Fred. Olsen Cruises Worldwide brochure and are subject to change and availability. ♦ price refers to cruise M1612 based on an inside cabin of two sharing. Lead price on M1612 is £799pp based on an inside cabin of two sharing. E&OE.

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WWT NEWS

LLANELLI IN THE PINK!

Flamingos at Llanelli, part of a great day out

We’ve always known that WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre is a great day out – now, it’s official! In November, the centre won a bronze award at the prestigious Carmarthenshire Tourism Awards in the competitive category ‘Best Day Out’. Competitive? You bet!

There were more than 230 entries and nominations.

‘We are over the moon to receive the award,’ says Centre Manager

Nigel Williams. ‘Our goal is to offer people an extraordinary day out by getting close to nature and gaining an understanding of the important conservation work we do here at the same time. We are lucky to have such great staff and volunteers offering visitors a friendly welcome, plenty of useful information and a real desire for everyone who comes through the door to have a wonderful time.’

BOOK FOR THE ANNIVERSARY The founding of WWT is not the only 70th anniversary that involves Sir Peter Scott this year. In 1946, the edition of Paul Gallico’s The Snow Goose illustrated

by Peter was first published.

This was fitting, as Peter also provided the inspiration for the character of Rhayader in this tale of a young girl, a lighthouse-dwelling artist and a wounded snow goose, which became one of the great fables of the 20th century.

In the 1930s, the young Peter moved in to a lighthouse in Lincolnshire. Here, he developed his skills and passion for painting wildlife, building an understanding, in particular, with wildfowl that would eventually lead to his founding of the Severn Wildfowl Trust, now WWT. After the war, he sought a new home – he found it at Slimbridge, and the rest is our history.

To celebrate this dual anniversary, WWT is this year republishing this

The Peter Scott lighthouse, in Sutton Bridge

classic tale, complete with its wonderful illustrations, to raise funds for conservation and environmental education work. We’re working in partnership with the Snowgoose Wildlife Trust, which now owns that original lighthouse, and the Gallico and Scott estates have donated their

copyright to allow the maximum amount to be raised.

We’d love you to be a The edition illustrated

by Peter Scott part of this exciting celebration. As you’re a member of WWT, we’re offering you an exclusive chance to be the first to purchase this special edition, including the option to donate a little more towards the project and receive a very limited-edition anniversary artwork. It will be conservation crowdfunding in action! By supporting the project, you’ll be helping to cover publication costs for a print run of 5,000 copies, from which we aim to raise more than £25,000 towards conservation work.

To get involved in this exciting project, please visit the website crowdfunder.co.uk/wwt. This will be a great example of conservation crowdfunding in action!

Crossword solution

Here are the answers to last issue’s crossword.

Across: 1. Depth 4. Bill 7. Inferior 8. Pool 9. Twinge 11. Animal 12. Dibble 14. Lagoon 15. Iberia 16. Gander 18. LEGO 19. Shoveler 21. Sloe 22. Event Down: 1. Den 2. Preen 3. Haile Selassie 4. Barnacle goose 5. Lapwing 6. Comatose 10. Whimbrel 13. Barn owl 17. Niece 20. Eft

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WWT ONLINE

NETLANDS

ird tw t

‘Flying visit to @WWTCaerlaverock to see barnacle geese after being inspired by Autumnwatch’ We love hearing about your visits and seeing your photos on Twitter. Keep on sharing @WWTworldwide.

SOME OF THE BEST WWT STORIES THAT YOU CAN FIND ONLINE

flight of the swans It will be epic. It will be inspiring. It will shed valuable light on one of the great journeys of the world. This September, when Bewick’s swans set off from their breeding grounds in Arctic Russia towards the UK, you’ll be able to follow them every wing-beat of the way.

It will all be thanks to an astonishing expedition run by WWT, called Flight of the Swans. Sacha Dench, our Head of Media Production, will be flying the entire migration route along with the swans, and you can follow via the BBC, the Met Office and, of course, our own website and social media.

‘We’ve learnt a lot about the swans and why they’re declining, but also about bringing people from different cultures along the flyway together to support the birds on their way,’ says Sacha. ‘We can’t have the population declining as it has done for another decade, or they’re going to be in serious trouble. So we need to know more about their migration, and the threats they face, to help with their protection.’

In order to follow the swans, Sacha is going to have to cover one of the planet’s most remote, wild and uninhabited places: the Russian tundra. And she’s going to do it hanging from a piece of fabric!

Yes, Sacha will be filming from a paramotor, and the expedition will be broadcast to the entire world, finishing in November, with the

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swans’ arrival in the UK. This will be the longest paramotor trip ever attempted by a woman, and the tale is bound to be an internet sensation.

Sir David Attenborough is inspired by the idea. ‘This expedition is marvellously imaginative and adventurous,’ he says, ‘and a fitting project in WWT’s 70th anniversary year. Peter Scott did similar in his day and inspired the world. That swans should fly from Russia, to come here, is surely a kind of parable – we can live in harmony with nature, and it’s up to us to do so.’

We believe that you will be inspired, too. If so, you may be able to help. We’re looking for sponsorship for this amazing conservation story, and if you have any contacts with organisations that would love to support us, do let us know (right).

For more on this remarkable adventure, visit wwt.org.uk/fots.

Bewick’s swans

t

rt o d ntur

If you know of anyone who may be interested in sponsoring this exciting expedition, please contact John Creedon on 01453 891274. In this, WWT’s 70th anniversary year, you’ll be helping to relay the tale of WWT’s famous bird to the world.

Sacha tries out the paramotor

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Nick Cottrell/WWT

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

otterly delightful

If you’re a volunteer, and you’d like to share your experiences with us online, do contact us. All you have to do is contact Susan Starkey at susan.starkey@wwt.org.uk.

fond of putting stones into the water filtration system, which has caused some wear and tear over the years, so keeper John Crooks and his team decided that while they were servicing it, they’d touch up a few other areas, too.

Were the otters fazed? Not a bit.

They were spoilt rotten by the staff, and you can watch the behindthe-scenes activity for yourself at wwt.org.uk/otters-new-home. It’s great fun!

Volunteers can share memories online

Sacha Dench/WWT

When the otter home at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre required a refurbishment in November, the otters themselves had to remain off-show for a week while their pad was given a much-needed spruce-up.

Flo, Minnie and Haha, the popular otters, are all pretty cheeky, but Haha is the particularly mischievous one, and her playful antics meant that their home at the centre needed a bit of attention. She’s particularly

If you’ve spent time looking through the sections and pages of our website, you’ll have seen a host of fabulous photographs and videos of life at the WWT wetland centres. Many of these have been taken by our growing band of wonderful volunteer photographers and videographers, and we’re extremely grateful for all their work and enthusiasm.

Many volunteers have great tales to tell, too, and we’d like to record these memories.

Online petition to ban lead ammunition The latest figures on lead ammunition poisoning have been published, and they make uncomfortable reading. According to the proceedings of the Oxford Lead Symposium, up to 100,000 swans, ducks and geese are estimated to die each year in the UK due to lead poisoning from spent gunshot.

At least 2,000 tonnes of toxic lead shot pellets – the equivalent weight of two million bags of sugar – is used

to shoot live quarry in the UK each year.

Most of it ends up on the ground, where it can be ingested by birds This swan is unable to who mistake it for support its grit or seeds. It’s own weight not just the birds due to lead poisoning that can suffer: lead from ammunition can also enter the human food chain when people eat wild-shot game frequently.

WWT would like to see lead ammunition phased out by the end of 2017 and replaced with non-toxic

alternatives that are effective, affordable and readily available, and we will be covering the issue in greater depth in a future edition of Waterlife.

In the meantime, if you would like to find out more about this subject, then please visit us at wwt.org.uk/lead. If you would like to act, there is an online petition gathering momentum towards the ban of lead ammunition. If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, then the government will respond to it.

To sign, visit petition.parliament. uk/petitions/111533

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WIGEON POST

Send your letters on all things WWT or Waterlife to Wigeon Post, WWT, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, or email waterlife@wwt.org.uk

Dear Waterlife I understand from a friend that you are asking for stories about Peter and Philippa Scott. I knew them well as a child and used to stay at Slimbridge when it was just beginning.

My father, Tony Norris, and Peter were good friends.

They first met as young men camping in the fields that are now Slimbridge, looking at the birdlife around them. After several weekends they drifted together and soon realised that they needed a hide. They approached the farmer who owned the land and, with money raised from my greatgrandfather and Peter selling his paintings, they bought the field, and the rest of the story is well known.

I remember sitting watching Peter painting the Bewick’s swans and telling me their names, while I tiptoed around so as not to disturb them.

When my father died in 2005, Philippa honoured us by coming to his funeral.

Susan Bush, via email Editor replies: We’re so very grateful to you, Susan, for sharing these memories with us. This, of course, is now our 70th anniversary year, and we’re looking for reminiscences like this. Do keep sending them in.

Dear Waterlife In response to your invitation to send in imagery, I submit this photograph [above] of a pigeon. It was taken at Slimbridge, as you might well recognise, on the boardwalk leading from the main building (on 28 April last year).

You really should control your pigeons better!

John Edmonds, Leicestershire

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Editor replies: Many thanks for sending this in, John. If other readers have humorous wildlife photos they’d like to share, we’d love to see them.

Dear Waterlife Further to Adrian Davies’ letter [about discovering a Peter Scott painting and dedication to Tom Harrisson on the flyleaf of a book – issue 194], Tom Harrisson was recognised as a pioneering ornithologist who led expeditions to St Kilda, Norway, Lapland and Sarawak [now a province of Malaysia] while at Cambridge. Returning from a later expedition to the New Hebrides [now Vanuatu] and having met a tribe of cannibals, he said that he preferred to do his anthropology at home. He was instrumental in founding the Mass Observation project in 1937 and became active in the Species Survival activities of the World Wildlife Fund, through which he and Peter Scott most often met.

They enjoyed each other’s company.

Mike Garside, Oxford Dear Waterlife I have just been reading through the Oct/Dec edition of Waterlife and

tell us what you think!

came across the article in ‘Explore’ about the dormouse, a creature I have never seen before.

I am a regular visitor to WWT London, and quite often see wood mice at the feeders next to Headley Hide. About once a month I also visit WWT Arundel. Early in September, I made a rare midweek visit to the reserve and, walking down the long path between Sand Martin Hide and Reedbed Hide, I was amazed to see a small mouse shoot across the track in front of me. On returning to the visitor centre, my suspicions were confirmed when I described my sighting. It was indeed a dormouse. It was only a brief glimpse, and a rare one, of this wonderful little animal, and has to be the highlight of many visits to this delightful reserve. It also left the staff I spoke to rather green with envy, as it is, apparently, quite rare to see one.

Keith Harris, Surrey Dear Waterlife We particularly enjoyed one of our regular trips to Slimbridge earlier in the summer, when we took part in the LEGO® brick activities and enjoyed searching for the giant LEGO brick sculptures. Our son, James (aged six), was especially taken with ‘Lottie the Otter’ and was determined to build his own when he got home. The end result was probably two feet shorter than James Hazel dormouse

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LETTERS had intended, but he didn’t have the infinite supply of brown bricks that his original concept would have required!

While she has probably had fewer admirers than her big sister, Lottie Junior has had her own degree of fame when she won first prize for James in the LEGO brick sculpture category of our village flower show. Not only that, but James and his wonderful creation

crossword We’ve got this great prize for the winner of our crossword, set by WWT member Tim Bonsor. It’s a lovely selection of exclusive Bewick’s swan bill pattern stationery, worth around £23. Send your crossword (photocopied if you wish) to the address opposite by 20 February and the first correct entry drawn after that date wins. Meanwhile, the solution to last issue’s puzzle is on Waterlife January 2016 page 15; congratulations to the winner, Malcolm Curtis.

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Across 7/8. This BBC programme was broadcast live from Caerlaverock in November. (11) 9. It could be bass or treble. (4) 10. This rare dabbling duck is a summer visitor. (8) 11. Sort of treats you can get from Steart? (7) 13. Waste your time running after a wild goose? (5) 15. Small wader, may

23

be little or Temminck’s, often to be seen with 1 down. (5) 17. To disagree or refute. (7) 20. ‘Red button’ counterpart of 7/8 across. (8) 21. Technical hardware used for 7/8 across, or the bittern’s call. (4) 22. A place for sleeping birds. (5) 23. This map represents the terrain in three dimensions. (6)

Down 1. A small wader, found all year in the UK. (6) 2. Year-round wader; in the breeding season the male can be adorned with frills and 19 down. (4) 3. Puzzles, things which are difficult to understand. (7) 4. A group of insects in flight. (5) 5. Surname of one of the presenters of 7/8 across. (8) 6. Water _ _ _ _ _ _ are tiny mammals you can see at Slimbridge’s Back from the Brink. (6) 12. The larger this is, the wider the genetic diversity. (4,4) 14. Nocturnal animals which featured in 7/8 across. (7) 16. A rare _ _ _ _ _ _ bean goose was spotted at Martin Mere last November. (6) 18. A spectacular wader to be found at Slimbridge’s Wader Shore. (6) 19. Plumage adornments, as sported by Aythya fuligula, for example. (5) 21. Possible expensive part of a duck? (4)

she helped James win a cup for the best entry in the five to eight age group.

We are now waiting to see which of Lottie’s riverbank friends is next for a makeover.

Ash Family, Bristol Editor replies: Congratulations to James for such imaginative work.

If you’re looking for further inspiration from the brick animals, you’ll find them at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, including a newcomer to the group.

See page 65 to find out more.

spotting skills There was no fooling our readers last issue. Our close-up was of a barnacle goose, one of the winter visitors to the UK, with many seen at Caerlaverock, and you got it right in your droves.

Well done to you all, and particular congratulations to Sue Davies, the first name drawn out of the hat.

This issue, we’ve focused in on the detail of another winter bird – a visitor from Scandinavia.

You won’t see this one in the water, but in trees and fields. Can you tell what it is? Send your answer to the address opposite, and the first correct identification drawn after the closing date of 20 February wins a copy of Ultimate Wildlife Experiences.

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How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Struggling with them? Stuck for ideas in the first place? WWT has 10 suggestions that could really help you make the most of the year ahead

RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS It’s the start of a new year, and what

a year it promises to be. As you can read elsewhere in this issue, 2016 marks WWT’s 70th anniversary, and we’ll be building towards the actual month itself (November) with a host of celebrations for everyone to enjoy.

GIANT Duck Hunt

This year, then, let’s step forward together. In these pages, we have put together a host of suggestions for ways in which WWT can help you make the most of 2016, right the way through the year.

Make this the year when you try something new.

Spend more time with your family

Life can get very busy, and coming up with ideas that the whole family can get involved with can sometimes tax the tired mind. Your local WWT wetland centre can provide the answers. During this coming half-term holiday, for example, our centres up and down the country are running Puddle Jumping Championships which your children or grandchildren will love, and which will provide you with wonderful photos of laughing faces and great memories of family fun.

Winners can go on to further glory by becoming national champions.

Come the Easter holidays, we’ll be running the GIANT Duck Hunt again, now a spring favourite. There’ll be wonderful out-and-about family events during the summer holidays, too, plus the chance for get-togethers on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The experiences aren’t confined to the

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We’re not the only ones planning ahead; this is, of course, the time of year when we all like to make our resolutions for the coming months. We set off into the future with a spring in our step, looking forward to fresh, fun and exciting new challenges, to improve ourselves and to help those around us.

holiday seasons, either. We’ve got a packed line-up of family events throughout the year: there’s always something to do. Keep an eye on the events pages (wwt.org.uk/ wetland-centres) for ideas.

Plus, of course, you can create your own events: a family day out, exploring what our centres and wildlife have to offer, is always a day to treasure.

Children love jumping in puddles!

Volunteering offers something for everyone

OFFER A HELPING HAND Ask any 10 volunteers around WWT centres why they do what they do, and you’ll get 10 different answers.

Whatever you’re looking for, whether it be experience for your career, a place to get closer to nature, the chance to spend more time with people, or just something interesting to do, there’s a wide range of volunteering opportunities at WWT wetland centres that could cater for you. If you’d like to find out more, simply contact wwt.org.uk/volunteer.

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W W T AN D YO U

Take more exercise

Make new friendships through WWT

MEET NEW PEOPLE One of the best ways of exploring life is to do it with others.

At your WWT centre, there are oodles of people who can share and enhance your passions. For a start, there are the staff and volunteers: enthusiasts who are always willing to share their knowledge and interest. Chat to them about what you’ve seen, and you’re guaranteed a stimulating conversation.

Unless you really want to pump iron, why become a member of a gym when you’re already a member of WWT? NHS guidelines for aerobic activity for adults aged 19-64 recommend 150 minutes of brisk walking each week. Now, you could do that around your local streets, or on a running machine, but it’s much more pleasurable to take your exercise around a WWT centre. Plus, of course, you can stop whenever you like to admire the views. Walking is a calorie-burner, too.

A middle-aged person weighing 11 stone can burn around 400 calories by briskly walking 10,000 steps each day.

As we approach Easter, there are other activities.

Canoe safaris at Slimbridge and Martin Mere are great for exercising your upper body, and, come the summer holidays, Llanelli offers canoe safaris, too, plus bicycle trails. Keep an eye on your events page for details: wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres.

WWT centres are perfect for families

Why not take part in the various walks and talks on offer at WWT centres too? From swan feeds to Guides in the Hide, from otter talks to guided tours, there’s always something going on across the country.

Encourage others As a member of WWT, you’ll already have an interest in wildlife, whether it’s the simple pleasure of walking through natural environments and having a good day out, or the buzz of seeing a rare bird after hours of waiting. There are, however, many people out there who don’t share your interest – not because they genuinely don’t care, but because they’ve never taken the opportunity to take a look

at the world of wildlife. This year, then, make it your mission to stimulate that interest in at least one friend or family member for the very first time.

Using the discount vouchers you received upon joining, invite them along one day when you’re visiting your local centre. Point out what it is that you enjoy the most. Leave them to their own devices for, say, half an hour, then meet up again to compare

notes. They’ll definitely see something that they’ll want to talk about. Once that spark has been ignited, why not follow up by buying them a gift membership for their birthday? It won’t cost much more than buying them a couple of books they’ll never read or a board game they’ll never play, and what you’ll be doing is launching them on a lifetime of pleasure. You can buy one at wwt.org.uk/join or at the centres.

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Waterlife

Ben Langdon Photography/WWT

Share your experiences on social media. Tweet your sightings or photos, and join the thousands who already swap their WWT tales with each other. The world of wildlife is filled with enthusiasts; new friendships await.

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IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

Capture that special moment on camera

Whether you possess thousands of pounds worth of equipment, or just a mobile phone with which you take selfies, you’re a photographer. And every photographer can improve. See your centre events page for details of great opportunities: wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres.

Photography is a wonderful way of looking at the world around us. Equipped with a camera, we see things in a different way when we’re looking for photos: a simple reedbed becomes a golden habitat bathed in sunlight to the photographer’s eye; a heron standing quietly at the water’s edge provides a visual study of patience; courting grebes offer the opportunity for dramatic images of elegance. The better you get at it, the more pleasure you’ll gain.

MAKE A LIST Many birdwatchers compile a list of the species they see in a given year. For some, the list can be a driving force, sending y in them around the countr most, For s. tick ra ext search of way of ing ain ert ent an it’s r, howeve ing see and , marking what they see r. yea t las n tha ter if they can do bet

Take up a new hobby There are true benefits to learning new skills. In fact, the NHS includes learning as one of the five steps that we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. So, this year, why not try something you’ve never tried before?

From willow-weaving to watercolours, from birdwatching lessons to photography, see your centre events page for details. Simply visit wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres.

Try watercolour painting at one of our sessions

Why not take the idea further? If you get yourself sponsored as you put your new talent into practice, you could help to raise valuable funds for WWT’s conservation work. To find out more, check out wwt.org.uk/champions.

for you, why Even if list-making is not year at one for not give it a try, just y of the wa the in get ’t least? It doesn ing, but tch wa bird of res asu simple ple ut abo re it can help you learn mo r nde wo ‘I g kin birds. Instead of thin ies fl ing eth som en wh what that was’ s you age our enc list a to it by, adding already to try to find out. If you one for ke compile a bird list, ma . It’s a too up, gro e another wildlif to spend you age our enc to y great wa e. dlif Try more time exploring wil centre T visiting a different WW r during the yea (to find out where our centres are, visit wwt.org.uk/ wetland-centres): you’ll add even Learn a new skill in 2016 more species to your list.

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Introduce your children to nature

Computers, mobile phones, apps, social media, television: there’s a generation growing up that is watching much of the world go by through screens. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as technology can provide wonderful opportunities in life, as long as our children aren’t entirely reliant upon it.

A recent study found that only 21% of children aged eight to 12 are ‘connected to nature’, and some have argued that this could have a negative effect upon their health, education and behaviour.

At WWT, we have a range of ways in which children can not just connect to nature, but thoroughly enjoy it, too.

We’ll be running our popular Nature Explorers theme during the summer, as well as the puddle-jumping and GIANT Duck Hunt in February and at Easter (see page 20), but there are events and facilities for children of all ages at centres across the country all year. If you haven’t already visited them, try our Discovery Hides at Arundel, London, Martin Mere and Slimbridge: they’re a great way to introduce kids to the wonders of wildlife. Plus, of course, watching your children hand-feed one of the ducks or geese around our grounds is to witness unmissable wide-eyed excitement.

W W T AN D YO U Children can connect to nature through handfeeding our birds…

…and through pond dipping and more

SAVE THE WORLD Good for you! You’re clearly someone who likes to aim high. Well, let’s take a look at what you’re already doing. In the search for life in our solar system, there’s one vital ingredient that astronomers look for, and that’s water. Without it, the life we have on our own planet wouldn’t exist. Misuse or degradation of our water can destroy life on this planet, and WWT is a front runner in trying to protect and enhance the various functions of this precious resource.

WWT, in its turn, would not exist without its members like you.

In short, whatever resolutions you take up, and however long you manage to maintain them, you’re already doing something of huge significance. At WWT, we resolve to continue to work for wetlands, wildlife and people, to improve life for all, at home and abroad. It is thanks to you that we can do so.

Together, let’s make 2016 – WWT’s 70th anniversary year – the best it can possibly be.

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In 2015, two important milestones were reached in the fight to save the scaly-sided merganser

scaling

UP years. Surveys up until 2012 suggested Battery charm: that there may be approximately cover have to do with an old car battery cover 1,940 pairs left, with the vast majority conservation? Well, the answer makes a great in the Sikhote-Alin range, south is a true spark of genius. nest box of Russia’s Amur River. About Recycled battery covers, we 270 pairs could be hanging on in now know, make wonderful the Changbai Mountains of China nest boxes and, in 2015, they and North Korea. played a vital role in kickMuch of the credit for the starting a breeding project conservation successes and the for one of the world’s most advances in research goes to Diana’s endangered ducks. nest-box programme in Russia. She Let’s start by introducing has been providing artificial nesting the bird itself. The scalysites for the mergansers, attached sided merganser of the to trees in just the same way as you Russian Far East, northern might do for blue tit nest boxes in China and North Korea has a British woodland, and in 2015 been through difficult times. a major milestone was reached.

A tree-nester, it has suffered Since the programme began, about heavily from extensive a dozen years ago, 1,000 ducklings logging practices in its breeding Flyway Partnership, and supporting have now successfully hatched from range, which, allied to the further merganser expert Diana Solovyova in their artificial homes, providing a vital threats of hunting, entanglement in her work surveying and providing new boost to the global population. gill nets and river pollution, had, over nesting opportunities for the birds.

Of course, bringing more mergansers the years, reduced its population to an It has been very important work into the world is not enough if the estimated 2,000 pairs by the end of the indeed, and the indications are that threats are still out there. A newly built 20th century. Today, it is classified as the population has stabilised in recent Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

For many years, WWT has been Since the programme began, 1,000 ducklings have contributing to the efforts of the successfully hatched from their artificial homes, Scaly-sided Merganser Task Force, a part of the East Asian-Australasian providing a vital boost to the global population

Main image: FLPA/Martin Hale

Piao Longguo

What does an old car battery

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P R I VAT E L I F E

A pair of scaly-sided mergansers showing exactly how they got their name

visitor centre in Kishinevka, at the heart of the breeding range, was opened last year, to give the task force a base to hold meetings with local communities and hunting groups, to build greater awareness of the merganser’s plight.

So much for the Russian breeding grounds: what about China? It was here, last year, that the second milestone was reached. After several years of placing artificial nest boxes with no joy, in 2015 the very first duckling finally hatched – and it was not alone. Those car battery covers (they’re donated by Chevrolet, incidentally) that the task force uses in its Chinese programme came good, and no fewer than 12 young scaly-sided mergansers entered the world.

Prospects in breeding areas, then, are beginning to look up, but this season only represents part of the ducks’ lives.

In addition to the 150 or so pairs that breed in China, we know that the vast majority of mergansers migrate to spend their winters in that country, too. By fitting geolocators to the backs of some birds, and encouraging field reports from the growing numbers of birdwatching societies in China, we’re building a picture of the birds’ migratory routes and destinations.

This will be vital. Scaly-sided mergansers are most at home on fast-flowing rivers, which makes dam-building, a feature of Chinese development, a problem for them.

We are very fortunate in having Professor Guanghun Lei, of Beijing Forestry University’s School of Nature Conservation, as the chair of the task force, as he will be able to liaise on behalf of the merganser at a regional and even governmental level.

New initiatives will have to be explored if the scaly-sided merganser’s future is to be secured (see box). But the framework, like those artificial nest boxes, is in place, and these beautiful birds now stand a real chance of survival.

Peter Cranswick is WWT’s Head of Planning and Advisory.

Amur tiger

Teaming up with tigers?

It can be very difficult to implement significant change on behalf of a single, littleknown species, unless that species can be associated with other conservation benefits.

In the case of the scaly-sided merganser, it can.

First, the bird is found only on pristine rivers, so its own success or failure can be used as an indicator of environmental health. Second, and very importantly, it shares much of its range with the Amur tiger, an animal with a very high profile,

for which much conservation work is already under way.

China and Russia have already agreed to enhance the protection of the Amur tiger (also known as the Siberian tiger), and support regular anti-poaching patrols that have run in parts of the tiger’s range for some years.

At the last workshop in September, WWT and other representatives discussed ways in which scaly-sided merganser

conservation could ‘piggyback’ existing work to protect the Amur tiger and the riparian forest on which they both depend, while still being an indicator of conservation success in its own right.

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wwt.org.uk/legacies

Leave a legacy. Save wildlife A gift in your will to WWT can help us continue saving wetlands, protecting the wildlife we love and bringing people and wildlife together.

Our membership fees are essential, but only cover around one third of the costs we need to continue our work. That’s why we rely on the generosity of people who leave us a gift in their will.

A gift of any size will make a huge difference that can inspire generations to come.

For a legacy information booklet, please return this form to:

David Salmon, Legacy Manager, WWT, Freepost RTKU-UJUZ-ZHZX, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT

Name

Email

Address (inc postcode)

Call David Salmon - Legacy Manager 01453 891150 or email david.salmon@wwt.org.uk to ďŹ nd out more!

WWT reg. charity in England & Wales, no. 1030884 and Scotland, no. SC039410

Tick box to opt out of receiving future emails from WWT

HOME FROM HOME Lesser white-fronted geese

As we launch our 70th anniversary year, we want to hear what inspires you the most about your time with WWT

platinum moments Inspiration can strike in a single moment.

A falling apple set Isaac Newton’s mind racing towards a new understanding of the laws of physics. A random thought about weightlessness drove Albert Einstein to leave his job in a patent office and seek higher things. Paul McCartney woke up one morning with the tune to ‘Yesterday’ in his head.

It was soon after World War II that another such moment occurred, on a patch of land near the small village of Slimbridge near the River Severn.

Intrigued by the idea that lesser white-fronted geese might be more common in the UK than assumed, Peter Scott, Olympian and son of the polar explorer, set out to look out for one. He found two. It was ‘a moment of unforgettable exultation – a major triumph, an epoch-making occurrence, a turning point’. As his biographer, Elspeth Huxley, writes: ‘Then and

there he made the decision to establish on the Severn Estuary a centre for the scientific study, public display and conservation of the wildfowl of the world.’

Peter acted quickly and, in November 1946, he established the Severn Wildfowl Trust on that very patch of land. It was a decision that has changed the world for the better. Now named the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Peter’s moment

WWT helps people and wildlife in 77 countries around the world, restoring wetlands, helping to encourage sustainable livelihoods and monitoring bird populations

of inspiration has sparked a remarkable movement.

In 70 years, WWT has expanded upon that original vision at Slimbridge and created nearly 7,500 acres of the most wildlife-rich wetland in the UK, and designed it so that people can get as close to wildlife as possible.

There are now nine wetland centres, plus the newly opened reserve WWT Steart Marshes, which provide unforgettable experiences for around a million visitors a year, including 50,000 school children, who have the opportunity to enjoy hands-on experiences with the natural world around them.

But Peter’s vision has grown beyond just the UK. WWT now helps people and wildlife in 77 countries around the world, restoring wetlands, helping to encourage sustainable livelihoods, monitoring bird populations and JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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HOME FROM HOME Malagasy children (left) and fun with water

Sacha Dench/WWT

Inspired Choices

movements, and developing conservation plans.

There are species that would no longer exist were it not for WWT. The nene, or Hawaiian goose, was brought back from the brink of extinction in the trust’s early days; today, you can feed them at Slimbridge and other centres as they walk the grounds. The Madagascar pochard, down to a mere handful of individuals just a few years ago, is now benefiting from the avicultural skills of our experts who are working hard to build its numbers back up through a tailored conservation Peregrine falcon breeding programme.

Our work with partners to save the spoon-billed sandpiper is giving that endangered and charismatic wader a lifeline.

Yes, a lot has been achieved in 70 years, yet so much more needs to be done, as Chief Executive Martin Spray explains on page four of this issue. Throughout the year, as we build towards the anniversary month itself of November, Waterlife will be reviewing the successes of the past and outlining the plans and ambitions for the future.

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Let us know what has inspired you the most about your time with WWT, and we will publish the best in October.

Your inspirations can range from a single sentence to 100 words maximum.

Crane Please send them, marked reintroduction Inspired Choices, to waterlife@wwt.org.uk.

You can also share your memories on Twitter using #InspiredChoices.

It’s all thanks to you

None of any of this, however, not one single centre, saved species or restored wetland, would exist without you. Without you, the look of joy and awe on the faces of school children as they explore the natural delights of a WWT centre would be lost. Were it not for you, the world’s knowledge and understanding of wetland wildlife and how to protect it would be set back. It is WWT that makes things happen, but it is the membership that makes WWT. It has always been that way, and it always will.

Which is why we want you to be part of this anniversary year. For Peter, the moment of inspiration began with a goose. We want to hear from you what it is about your own experience with WWT that has inspired you the most.

It could be watching your young children as they discover the fun to

be had with water at Slimbridge’s Welly Boot Land, or the first time you sat in one of our hides and saw a peregrine falcon hurtle towards its prey. Perhaps it’s the glorious massed pinks of one of our flamingo flocks, or the excitement of the hidden secrets of pond dipping. It might be that you’ve been most inspired by one of our conservation successes, or by watching a swan-feeding session, or learning something new about wildlife, or enjoying a family day out, or discovering how to create your own rain garden, or chatting to a volunteer, or… well, perhaps your most inspiring moment was meeting Peter himself.

We want to know, and we want all our readers to know. Send us your inspirations, and in the October issue, the anniversary issue itself, we’ll publish the best seven – one for each decade.

We have a big year ahead, and even bigger times beyond. Thank you for being with us every step of the way.

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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The Grant Arms Hotel

Celebrity Guided Week with Nick Baker Saturday 7th to Friday 13th Nov 2015

Grantown-on-Spey

7 nights

THE WILDLIFE HOTEL

£1,195pp DB&B

Space in limited to a maximum of 12 people.

Wildlife Breaks

in the Highlands Four Poster Room

As soon as you walk into the Grant Arms Hotel you realise it isn’t just any ordinary Hotel.

In short the refurbished Grant Arms is the hotel for bird and wildlife watchers.

BWWC Lecture Theatre

What’s included: O Breakfast Menu ranging from full Scottish to Kippers or Continental O Fine Scottish Dining O Special Diets accommodated O Afternoon Tea & Coffee O After Dinner Coffee & Tea O Programme of Talks, Walks and Wildlife Briefings, Films & Quizzes O WiFi O Complimentary Daily Newspaper O Free Parking O Free use of BWWC’s private Slavonian Grebe Hide O Boot wash, drying room and laundry O ‘Early Birder’ breakfast if required.

HOW TO GET THERE

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

TARIFF 2015/16 DB&B

Apr - Oct

4 NIGHTS

7 NIGHTS

Standard Superior Four Poster Standard Superior Four Poster

£320 £380 £440 £560 £665 £770

Nov - Dec Jan - Mar Apr - Oct £260 £320 £380 £450 £555 £660

Standard Room

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

Speyside and the Cairngorms are one of the best areas for wildlife watching in the UK. Perfect for 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.

Guests have free use of the BWWC Information Centre, Club Room and Library. BWWC staff are available at Breakfast and in the Evening to help you make the best of your holiday whilst leaving you free to do what you want.

Superior Room

£270 £310 £350 £445 £515 £585

£325 £365 £405 £565 £635 £705

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. Special Rates for Clubs, Tours & Conferences. Terms & Conditions apply.

TO BOOK CALL 01479 872526

By Train: The nearest station is Aviemore (14 miles) on the Edinburgh-Inverness line.

Fly EASYJET to INVERNESS from GATWICK, LUTON & BRISTOL for less than £100 RETURN

By Plane: Inverness Airport (30 miles) Flights from most major UK airports.

Other destinations available from Aberdeen Airport (75 miles).

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

SPECIAL EVENTS CHRISTMAS IN WONDERLAND Wed 23 to Sun 27 Dec 15 4nights full board from

£440pp

www.bwwc.co.uk or email bookings@bwwc.co.uk

HOGMANAY IN THE HIGHLANDS

BWWC LTD, 25 THE SQUARE, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HF

Wed 30 Dec to Sat 2 Jan 16 3 nights full board from

All programmes, talks, walks and rooms subject to availability and liable to change without notice.

www. bwwc.co.uk

FUll 029_WWT_JanMar_16.indd Page.indd 1 29

DOG FRIENDLY

£395pp

SPECIAL PACKAGE - Christmas and Hogmanay 10 night Break (7 nights full board and 3 nights DBB) from £1,030pp.

Enjoy guest speakers, field trips, walks, films and fun.

19/08/2015 04/12/2015 10:11 10:32

Photo competition

winn r

BRIAN DUNSEATH

‘Little egret’, London James Lees says: ‘The image is very well exposed. White birds are particularly difficult to expose correctly against a dark background. If you over-expose a white bird, you lose the detail in the feathers, whereas if you under-expose it, the white bird will become too dark. It’s difficult to get it spot on, especially with an action shot, but Brian has achieved it brilliantly.’

picture perfect The winner of the 2015 Waterlife Summer Photo Competition has now been chosen, and you can feast your eyes upon it above, along with the runners-up In 2014, we launched our digital photo

competition, and were amazed at the response. Could 2015 take the competition even further? The quality of the imagery you sent in meant there could only be one answer: yes!

With hundreds of entries to choose from, our panel whittled the selection down to a shortlist, then invited James Lees to take over and select a winner.

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Waterlife

host of ever-popular photography courses and sessions around the reserve, as well as an excellent photographer in his own right.

So which photo did he pick as the winner? It’s Brian Dunseath’s, above, of a little egret coming in to land at WWT London Wetland Centre. ‘Brian’s photograph is fantastic and it really stood out to me.’ says James. ‘It’s wonderfully framed and Brian has captured the elegance of the egret’s movement. You can feel that it’s about

to land. There’s a nice touch of pink in the background, too.’ ‘“Wow!” is about all I can say,’ says Brian. ‘I am totally shocked, but thrilled about winning this competition. The prize is wonderful, but having my image recognised in among the quality of so many other entrants is just fantastic.’

Congratulations to Brian for his excellent photo, for which he wins this magnificent pair of Leica Ultravid 10x32 HD binoculars, worth £1,330.

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MAGGIE HENFIELD ‘Hello, world’, Martin Mere James Lees says: ‘This image is really striking.

Being in black and white enhances the subject and creates contrast which is very appealing. The perspective is great, with the cygnet looking up to the camera.’

Chief judge James Lees, reserve warden at WWT Slimbridge

If you missed last year’s competition, or entered but didn’t win, fear not: keep an eye on Waterlife, as we’ll be announcing the 2016 summer competition later in the year. If you’d like to brush up on your skills in the meantime, why not check the events section of this issue and the website for an ever-growing range of WWT photography courses and opportunities at our wetland centres?

CHRIS HENRY

C

‘Tree wasp’, Castle Espie James Lees says: ‘It’s really refreshing to see someone paying attention to an insect that most people don’t like! It’s a great macro shot, showing just how stunning these creatures are. A macro lens allows your focal length to be much closer to the subject than a normal lens.

This allows for a much more dramatic and detailed image.’

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Adopt today from

Adopt Little Squeak

just £3 a month

Meet Little Squeak, our new otter pup at WWT Washington. Little Squeak is growing into a cheeky otter, but she has given parents, Mimi and Musa, some scares along the way. An adoption will help pay for food and essential healthcare check-ups, and also fund our work to save the habitats of otters all over the world.

By adopting Little Squeak you’ll receive a pawsome adoption pack with an otterly adorable Little Squeak cuddly toy, a personalised certificate, a poster, a free entry ticket to a WWT centre, and much more.

Call 01453 891195 or visit wwt.org.uk/otter to adopt today!

Photo competition

il o

PAUL HUNTER

nd tion

‘Family of brent geese’, Castle Espie James Lees says: ‘I like this one because not only does it show a small family group in flight, but it also shows the rest of the geese feeding in the background. It’s like a moving landscape.’

st o t

COLIN DALTON

r st

‘Black-tailed godwit’, Llanelli James Lees says: ‘The position that the bird is captured in is fantastic. There’s so much detail.

The photographer has chosen a good speed to take the image at. He’s frozen the wings and tail and even the water droplets. At a slower speed, the wings would have been blurred, which would not have had the same effect.’

DAVE POTTER

‘Heron’, Slimbridge James Lees says: ‘A nicely timed photo. It’s quite a unique picture as, on closer inspection, the heron has actually caught two fish at the same time!’

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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Photo competition

st o t r st PETER SMITH

‘Flamingo feeding chick’, Slimbridge James Lees says: ‘A well-captured image of this rather intimate moment of a female greater flamingo feeding crop milk to its youngster. The composition of this image demonstrates just how long-necked they are. It also draws the eye to exactly where the action is taking place.’

TONY BATEMAN

‘Nose above water’, Martin Mere James Lees says: ‘A lovely shot of this otter taken from a great perspective, coming low towards the camera. It makes you feel like you’re there with the otter coming at you. The photographer has also done a fantastic job to capture the animal’s reflection in the water.’

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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NEW Ladies’ Torres Jacket £160 •

Insulated hood and hand-warming pockets •

Unique Nikwax Insulator fabric gives protection against the cold, wet and wind.

Get closer to nature Páramo has a more practical approach to keeping warm with the Torres Overlayering® range; water-repellent, synthetic block insulation worn over your outer layers.

Using Nikwax Analogy® Insulator fabric, Torres ensures day-long comfort – perfect to get closer to nature.

Designed in partnership with nature professionals around the world.

To view the Páramo range visit: www.paramo.co.uk/waterlife Photo: George Karbus

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Naturetrek Half_WWT_Jan Dec_16.indd 1

04/12/2015 15:28 15:26 04/12/2015

F L I G H T PAT H

An exciting WWT project is creating a new bond between the people of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and their wetlands, as Matthew Simpson reveals

All wetland pics: Matthew Simpson/WWT

A few months ago, I was walking through an

urban wetland paradise, gently taking in the sights and sounds. Pelicans were preening nearby, and in the distance I could make out a Brahminy kite wheeling overhead. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I picked up a movement, and turned to see a pair of otters slipping almost noiselessly into the water.

What a joy! As I watched them play, an elderly man strolled by, and we passed the time of day. He loved to take his walks through this beautiful part of the city, he told me. It’s

just so much cooler than downtown. And so much to see.

I watched him as he ambled on. It was hard to imagine what he and his fellow city-dwellers had been through. Twenty-six years of civil war had come to an end in 2009, and the very next year the city had suffered such heavy flooding that more than a quarter of a million people had been displaced. Yet, here he was, able to take his daily constitutional through stunning wetlands in the heart of the city and contemplate the beautiful things in life. Welcome to Colombo,

Newly built huts provide wetland views for the city folk of Colombo JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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Viewing huts nestle into the landscape

Sri Lanka, and to a truly inspiring wetland success story.

For WWT Consulting, the story began three years ago.

The civil war was over, and tourism was beginning to build once more in Sri Lanka.

The national government, however, knew that, for most The wetlands are found tourists, Colombo was little throughout more than a launch pad for the city the beaches and the wild areas, and they wanted more people to spend time in the capital, too, and infilling for housing enjoying its culture and beauty. It just developments had halved the so happens that about 1,000 hectares area over the past 50 years.

Fishing cat of the metropolitan region of Colombo We calculated that, as long is made up of wetlands, from wet as what remained of the grassland to flooded forest and more. wetlands was protected, As a result, the World Bank called us its ability to absorb overflow in to advise. from the Kelani should keep The first thing we did was flooding down to no more than conduct an assessment two or three occasions a century. We of this vast area of land, also showed how the wetlands provide which lies in the lower waste water treatment, freshwater floodplain of the Kelani supply, carbon storage, sustainable For the governmental agencies we River. This was the food supply, nutrient recycling were working with, this was a very river that caused the and more. important point. The revitalisation flooding of the city Then there was the matter of Colombo is not just to encourage during the monsoon of temperature, and here tourism – it’s also to provide better season of 2010 – the there’s a remarkable Brahminy kite living conditions for the residents cost of which set the statistic. We all know that themselves. A civil war that lasts nation back by 0.5% of if you stand in a car park its annual GDP – and in the heart of a busy city, more than a quarter of a century takes its toll on a nation’s spirit, and we, with World Bank it’s warmer than if you the government is determined to colleagues, were able to stand in a green park. We show that removal of the showed that, in Colombo, rebuild quality of life. There is a thirst among the inhabitants of Colombo wetlands would result in wetland areas are an similar types of flooding amazing 10ºC cooler than for increased family activities that can be conducted in an atmosphere on a near-annual basis. This built-up areas, providing of safety, and with the information important floodplain, we respite from the heat in a and advice we were able to provide, pointed out, had already city less than 500 miles the government realised that the diminished: dredging activities north of the equator.

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Governing bodies of water The two governmental agencies that WWT Consulting is working with in the development of the Colombo wetlands project are the Urban Development Authority and the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation.

Now, their titles wouldn’t suggest that they have an interest in wetland protection, but the concept of urban wetlands as natural infrastructure has become embedded in the policy of the Sri Lankan government. Within the latter group, it has even set up a Wetland Management Division, which is a major indication of how seriously it takes wetland protection.

In fact, if the Colombo project goes well, the government has already stated that it would like to have talks about rolling the model out across other Sri Lankan cities, too.

Much of WWT Consulting’s work around the world involves the restoration of wetlands: in Colombo, they’re already in an excellent condition city’s wetlands could provide just such an opportunity.

The interesting thing is that no one had really paid much attention to them before. To the residents of Colombo, the big wet area was where a bunch of animals lived, and there was little point in going there. We’ve therefore been raising awareness of their benefits and their beauty.

Extraordinarily for an urban area, the wetlands of Colombo are simply stunning. Much of WWT Consulting’s work around the world involves the restoration of wetlands: in Colombo, they’re already in an excellent condition. Many species of kingfisher and heron fish the waters, which are also used by Kelani River migrating waders as a Colombo stopover, while dragonflies Sri and butterflies are in

abundance during the summer. The endangered fishing Boardwalks cat thrives here provide easy and can even be access to the wetlands seen in the urban heart of Colombo where it moves through the culverts from one wetland to another. These wetlands don’t require restoration, just preservation.

To this end, we have been working with government agencies to provide sensitively created public access.

Boardwalks have been built, and two wetland centres – the Beddagana Wetland Park and Thalawathugoda Education Centre – opened late last year, helping to bring further income into the city. These centres are pilot projects and, assuming that they’re successful, more will Lanka be built. We’re also

recruiting local staff, and training them to run the centres, provide walking tours and more. As the word spreads about this wetland on the doorstep, it will increasingly become adopted and loved by the people of Colombo.

All of which has made this a truly exciting project. The people and their wetlands are being brought closer together, providing richer lives for the former, and protection for the latter.

It’s a perfect example of two aspects of WWT’s work: the championing of urban wetlands, and the close engagement with local communities to benefit people and wetland wildlife alike.

Matthew Simpson is an Associate Director of WWT Consulting. All profits from its work go to WWT. JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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l u f r e d n o w 10 d l r o w TOP TEN

1

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

Marsh to celebrate

Marsh tits have been declining across the UK, their population tumbling by 50% since the 1960s. These small, black-capped, brown birds are scarce in Sussex, so regular sightings of two marsh tits this winter at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre have had grounds manager Paul Stevens very excited. ‘Marsh tits are a sedentary species – nesting, breeding and feeding all in relatively the same area, without ranging too far. Having two around the reserve bodes well for possible breeding next spring.’

2

Owl of delight

Paul Jarvis/WWT

In spring 2013, WWT Arundel installed an owl nest box on the islands of the Wetlands Discovery Boat Safari. Last year, owl droppings and pellets indicated that it was being used by a barn owl! The bird was first spotted in June, and by autumn it was being seen leaving the box at dusk each day to hunt. A larger predator such as this hunting regularly on-site shows how well balanced the Arundel ecosystem is.

3

Flushed with pride

WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre has received an award for providing improved facilities for disabled children. The Firefly Garden, which runs the Space to Change campaign to encourage businesses to improve their toilet/changing facilities, presented the award to the centre for a new private space. It has room for a child, their wheelchair and carer, and includes an adjustable changing bench and waste disposal facilities.

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4

Water-walker

Even the hardiest birds can struggle in sea gales, and in mid-November, one of the toughest oceanic birds was seen taking respite along the Dumbles at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Leach’s petrel spends most of its time at sea, usually only venturing on land to breed. The bird showed its characteristic behaviour of ‘walking on water’ during the short time it was seen, a flight pattern used when searching for fish and molluscs.

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

08/12/2015 14:42

5

Sign language

Skilful, patient, iridescent and beautiful though they may be, there’s one attribute that kingfishers don’t possess: they clearly can’t understand Welsh. While wandering around WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre last year, visitor Ray Davies spotted and photographed this glorious bird sitting atop a sign. ‘Dim Pysgota’ it clearly says, but the kingfisher is ignoring it.

It presumably doesn’t realise that dim pysgota is Welsh for… ‘no fishing’!

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8

From wetlands to Westminster

Last year, many of you signed a petition towards the development of Water Matters, a document that suggested steps the government could take to improve the health of wetlands. We can report that Zac Goldsmith MP hosted its launch in the autumn at the Houses of Parliament, where it was well received

by Environment Secretary Liz Truss.

Water Matters will now be fed into the government’s 25-year plan for nature.

Thanks to all who signed the petition.

Foot notes

‘Webbed feet are a very powerful tool for water displacement. You can often see flamingos standing in both deep and shallow water, stamping away like their lives depend on it! Churning up muddy or silty water can often reveal delicious morsels such as bloodworms (midge larvae).’ If you haven’t already read it, do check out the 15 November entry in Phoebe Young’s duck diary online, in which she and Paul Rose explain amazing connections behind ducks’ and flamingos’ lives. This great read is at wwt.org.uk/duck-diary.

7

Jump back

When you turn to the events section on page 45, you’ll notice that eight of our centres are running their inaugural Puddle Jumping Championships. What of the ninth?

Well, it’s WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, and it’s held it before. Last year, it hosted the first of these family events, and this February the fun is being rolled out nationwide.

You’ll love it!

10

9

The early bird

You’ll remember the unusually mild weather at the beginning of November, particularly if you visited WWT London Wetland Centre.

Nature reacted to the warmth as if it was spring: not only were plants such as cowslip and dogwood flowering early, but a red admiral butterfly was sighted, as were slow-worms and smooth newts, which should have been hibernating. Perhaps the biggest surprise, however, was a mallard duckling. In November? That’s just quackers!

See a pin and pick it up

How’s your WWT pin badge collection coming along? There are now nearly 20 different species to collect, from the greater flamingo to the otter, from the black swan to the pink-footed goose.

They look great on lapels, hats and rucksacks, and you can wear them with pride, knowing that each time you buy one you’re directly contributing to WWT’s vital conservation work both at home and abroad. You can buy these highly collectable badges at wwt.org.uk/pin-badges, or in WWT visitor centre shops.

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with

Steve Backshall

Hello again

One of the things that’s so exciting about this time of year is the amazing numbers of ducks that you can see at WWT wetland centres.

There are many that can be watched all year round, of course, but during the winter they’re joined by thousands of their cousins who come here to spend the cold months with us.

Wigeon, for example, number only a few hundred pairs during the summer months, but come the winter there are hundreds of thousands of them up and down the country. There are also more than 20,000 pintail during the winter, yet just a handful of pairs during the summer months.

Teal, pochard and more also increase hugely in numbers after the autumn migration.

How can there be room for them all? Well, the next time you visit a centre, have a look at the waterbodies where the ducks spend their time.

You’ll notice that some species like to be out in the middle of the water, some stick more closely to the edges, near the banks, while others seem happiest on the land, pottering about near the water’s edge.

There’s a reason for that. If you watch the birds closely, you’ll notice that they have all sorts of different types of feeding habits, and the varying water depths, as well as the pond and lake verges, suit different species.

So, this issue, let’s take a look at some of the different ways that our wintering ducks feed.

And then, once you’ve read about them, why not see how many different feeding methods you can spot the next time you visit a WWT wetland centre?

Until next time...

Pochard: now you see him, now you don’t

ut in the middle In most ponds and lakes, the water tends to be deeper the further out you go. This means that, if you’re a duck and you want to reach the bottom, you’re going to have to get well under the water.

These, then, are the diving ducks, and the commonest ones you’ll see are the pochards and tufted ducks.

Pochards and ‘tufties’ are closely related, and they like to feed on the aquatic plants that grow at the bottom of lakes, although they’ll also happily tackle molluscs

and small fish. When they dive under the water, they first arch up into the air, before disappearing several feet beneath the surface, where their feet paddle them along while they keep their wings closed. Next time you watch one dive, see if you can guess where it will pop back up again.

Did you know?

While div to run a feinwg pdaucks need s across the water befoce re take to the air, they dabblers are ab the spring straight le to up

A ‘tuftie’ spreads his wings

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KIDS’ ZONE

Grazing abo

Fish suppers If you’re very lucky, you might spot one of the UK’s sawbills this winter. The red-breasted merganser, goosander and smew eat fish, which they catch by diving. They have special bills to help them grab onto their prey tightly. They’re longer and thinner than those of other ducks, and they have serrated edges a bit like a saw, hence the name ‘sawbill’.

ut

Red-breasted merganser

What a lot of wigeon!

Goosander

Smew

Although wig eon mallard and te can sometimes be seen dabbling like al, you’re mor the e likely to se dry land alon e them feedin gside the wat g on er ’s edge. Also wigeon gather a plant-eater, s in quite larg the e flocks, and leaves and sh chomps away oots. at If you don’t sp ot them at firs They’re noisy t, you’ll certai birds, and the nly hear them male makes . whistling soun a very clear d.

Ho ho!

The upenders If you keep an eye on the shallower parts of lakes, such as near the banks or alongside any islands they might have, you’ll be more likely to see ducks such as mallards and teal. These are known as the dabbling ducks, from their habit of tipping themselves up so that their heads are under the water to feed, leaving their tail feathers above the surface and pointing to the sky.

Also sometimes known as ‘puddle ducks’, these particular species feed on plants that can be found just underneath the water’s surface. Their webbed feet tend to be a little smaller than those of the diving ducks, because they don’t need to use them for propulsion under the water in the same way.

What’s your favourite TV programme?

Up tails all!

Well, it just has to be The Eggs Factor!

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.

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Exclusive Offer

25% off LIFE membership*

ends 31 March 2016

We’re offering an exclusive 25% off Life Membership to our Waterlife readers, for a limited time only. What are the benefits?

• Free entry for you and one guest for life to all nine WWT wetland centres • Lifelong quarterly copies of Waterlife, our award-winning magazine • Annual copies of Wildfowl, our scientific journal *One adult £746.25 (was £995); one adult concession £468.75 (was £625); joint adult £1,068.75 (was £1,425); joint adult concession £637.50 (was £850); family £1,931.25 (was £2,575).

It’s easy to become a Life Member – call 01453 891198 or email membership@wwt.org.uk for more information.

This February half-term, why not take part in WWT’s very first national Puddle Jumping Championships? It’s just one of a host of great times to enjoy at your local centre For the full list of centre events, information and news, find your local centre at wwt.org.uk

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04/12/2015 15:43

London Camera Exchange_WWT_JanMar_16.indd 1

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D O W N YO U R WAY Arundel

WWT ARUNDEL WETLAND CENTRE In mid-February we start to see more lapwing and a few oystercatchers. You can join these waders by taking to the water in your wellies during the WWT Puddle Jumping Championships during February half-term! Don’t forget, too, that you can take the kids on a GIANT Duck Hunt again over the Easter holidays, starting on 24 March.

Before then, winter at Arundel brings magical frosty mornings with large numbers of gadwall, teal and tufted ducks on the water. It’s the perfect time to see them and, this year, you can Breakfast with the Birds once again this January. The dates are Sunday 24 and Saturday 30. You may even get a peek at the morning take-off of the flock of 25-plus Bewick’s swans that roost at Arundel on cold nights in winter. Meanwhile, stay warm on 24 January as we Celebrate Scotland with Glengoyne whisky tastings and a talk on WWT Caerlaverock. It’s the perfect way to prepare for Burns Night the following day!

January and February are a great time to see snipe and shy water rail. Any cold weather makes these birds break cover more often to find food, so they are easier to spot.

Bullfinches and kingfishers show well all winter, their bright coats standing out against the dull background.

In early March we see our first bees at Arundel and songbirds such as chiffchaffs and Cetti’s warblers; don’t forget to look out for the firecrests, too. As the reserve enjoys the first hints of spring, our new Beginning Birdwatching course starts, in which WWT experts lead the first of four seasonal sessions on 19 March. You can book all four workshops at a discount; for more information, please check the events website.

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

Water rail

Season’s highlight

Enjoy the early 8am openings of the café, Boat Safari and Ramsar and Lapwing hides, and watch the birds as they start their day.

Breakfast with the Birds, 24 and 30 January

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 Relax on a quiet trip through the wetlands with a guide to point out wildlife. First boat 11am, last boat 3.30pm.

Diving Duck Feed Watch long-tailed ducks and scoters dive for whitebait in the clear waters of the Icelandic lake. 2pm.

Hand-feed Wildfowl Get nose-to-beak with the birds in our feeding bay. Grain available in the vending machines for 20p a handful.

key

Mon 18 Jan, Mon 15 Feb & Mon 21 Mar Supporters Group Talks Series 18 Jan – Botswana, with Andrew Watts 15 Feb – A Sussex Wildlife Safari, with Michael Blencowe 21 Mar – Salisbury Plain: The Great Bustards, with David Kjaer Hear presentations on birds and other wildlife, and travel.

The money raised by the group from subscriptions, refreshments and raffles goes towards a donation to the

centre for equipment.

7.30-9.30pm. £3 PP. £15 PP per year for all talks. Tickets at door.

Sat 23 Jan Pine Cone Bird Craft Learn to use artistic wire techniques to create a pine cone bird with artist Anna Twinam-Cauchi.

Suitable for ages 8+.

10am-12 noon. £2.50 per bird.

Sun 24 Jan Celebrate Scotland We celebrate the birth of Rabbie Burns with Glengoyne whisky

tastings and a talk on WWT Caerlaverock.

Sun 24 & Sat 30 Jan Breakfast with the Birds The Water’s Edge café, the Boat Safari and the Tranquil Trail are open at 8am. Breakfast is not included in admission price. 8am.

Sat 13 to Sun 21 Feb WWT Southeast Puddle Jumping Championships Show some welly this half-term and jump

into the action! We invite you to make a splash in our (clean) practice puddles and enter our daily competition at 2.30pm.

Sun 14 Feb Bentley Wildlife Carvers These talented craftsmen demonstrate techniques while displaying their work for sale, with 10% supporting WWT. 10am-4pm.

Sat 19 Mar Beginning Birdwatching: Spring This is the first

of our new seasonal Beginning Birdwatching sessions.

Learn to look for spring arrivals and what to listen for in the burst of birdsong. £12 PP. Book all four seasonal sessions for £40. BE Thu 24 Mar to Sun 10 Apr GIANT Duck Hunt Go quackers on our GIANT rubber ducky hunt trail and see new life emerge as wild ducklings hatch out across the reserve.

There are daily crafts and pond dipping, too.

BE Booking Essential RI Refreshments Included WP Weather Permitting 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

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D O W N YO U R WAY Caerlaverock

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

WWT CAERLAVEROCK WETLAND CENTRE During February half-term, you can join in the very first Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships and, come the Easter holidays, we’ll be running the popular GIANT Duck Hunt.

Autumnwatch, which ran for four days in early November, showcased many of the wonders of Caerlaverock – from barnacle geese to the prehistoric tadpole shrimp – and although Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan, Martin Hughes-Games and the BBC team have now gone, the wildlife is still here in all its glory.

You watched it on TV, now come and see it for real.

The barnacle geese almost seemed to know that they were stars. The previous record number at the centre had never reached 40,000, but, with the cameras present, the geese topped that figure, with more than 41,000 arriving at the Solway Firth. There were some surprises among them as well: three of them were leucistic, which means they have a loss of pigmentation, giving them a whited-out look. In addition, a snow goose also arrived with the flock.

The BBC left the centre with a handy legacy, too. The super-fast broadband line that it installed to help with coverage remains, which means Caerlaverock will be able to set up excellent webcam feeds. In addition to watching the osprey cam, up and running by the time the magnificent raptors return, keep an eye out on the website for a new badger cam and whooper cam.

Talking of whoopers, you may have heard on Autumnwatch about Caerlaverock’s special naming programme. Obi Swan Kenobi was the name chosen on air for one of our swans, but there’s an opportunity for you to name the birds, too. Visit wwt.org.uk/name-a-whooperswan to find out more. And don’t forget the commentated swan feeds, twice a day until April. Autumnwatch is over, but your winter and spring watching at Caerlaverock are not to be missed.

Barnacle geese

Season’s highlight

During the February half-term holiday, we’re launching the very first Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships. Come and make a splash!

WWT Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships, 17-21 February

Caerlaverock Events (See page 47 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/caerlaverock) Daily Activities Wild Swan Feeds See wild whooper swans closer than anywhere in Britain from the Sir Peter Scott Observatory, with live commentary by the warden. Oct to Apr, 11am and 2pm daily.

Guide in the Hide Our friendly, knowledgeable guides will be out and about in the hides to point out the best wildlife of the day. See the ‘What’s on’ board in the visitor centre for information.

11am-3pm daily.

Sun 31 Jan & Sun 13 Mar Wildlife Photography for Beginners

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Special beginners’ photography workshop with Tom Langlands and Bob Fitzsimmons.

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

10am-4pm. Please contact the centre for details. BE Wed 3 Feb & Wed 2 Mar Caerlaverock Kids Join our group for parents and toddlers.

Take part in outdoor and nature activities at the centre. 10-11am. BE Sun 7 Feb Dawn Flight Join the wardens as we open early to

experience the wild geese flighting in against the dawn sky.

The coffee shop will also be open early to provide hot drinks and bacon rolls. Bring warm, waterproof clothing, binoculars and a torch. 7am. BE Wed 17 to Sun 21 Feb WWT Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships How good are you at puddle-jumping?

As a wetland habitat, we have plenty of fantastic puddles!

Come and show us your skills at the first WWT Scottish Puddle Jumping

Championships.

10am-4pm.

Sat 5 Mar Swanning About What swans do we get at Caerlaverock? Where do they go in summer?

How many feathers does a swan have?

Learn all about swans at Caerlaverock through outdoor activities and indoor arts and crafts. Family event. 10am-2pm. BE Sun 6 Mar In Focus Try before you buy the latest binoculars and telescopes from the huge range available today. In Focus experts are on hand all day to

give advice. WWT Caerlaverock benefits from every sale.

10am-4pm. Free.

Sat 12 Mar High Tide Birding Join the warden in the Saltcot Hide, to watch the flocks of thousands of ducks and waders brought in by the high tide.

12 noon-2pm.

Mon 28 Mar GIANT Duck Hunt Take part in the GIANT Duck Hunt around the reserve. Follow the clues to find the giant ducks and learn more about these delightful birds. Family event.

10am-2pm. BE

Mon 28 Mar to Fri 8 Apr (excluding the weekend) Stars and Stripes Badger Watching Watch wild badgers feeding just outside our comfortable observatory. Fair-trade tea, coffee and biscuits available. 8pm. £7.50 PP, £5 concessions, £2.50 PC. Tickets must be paid for in advance.

RI BE

Thu 31 Mar Eggstravaganza Paint an egg and take part in an egg-andspoon race on the reserve. Learn about birds and eggs. Family event. 1-3pm. BE

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

04/12/2015 15:54

Castle Espie

WWT CASTLE ESPIE WETLAND CENTRE

Season’s highlight

Don’t forget to book our special LEGO brick workshops in good time: your children will have great fun learning how to make, and take home, their own brick animal figures.

LEGO Brick Animal Workshops, 13 February to 20 March (weekends and holidays)

Benedict the Bewick’s swan

WWT

The LEGO® brick figures, which have been touring WWT centres, will be arriving at Castle Espie on 13 February and you can follow their trail when you tour the grounds between then and 20 March. There’s an extra one, too: in November, the brick menagerie was joined by a kingfisher, adding a further splash of colour to this fabulous collection.

Also in February, you can take part in the very first Northern Ireland Puddle Jumping Championships: during the half-term holiday, bring your family, your wellies and high spirits. There’s a great Bird Box-building Workshop on the weekend of 6-7 February, too, to help you prepare for the season.

The overwintering wildfowl will be with us through January and February, so there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the good numbers of teal, shelduck and greylag geese. Plus, of course, there are Castle Espie’s famous light-bellied brent geese, which will be disappearing back to Canada in March. Back in early October, when they first started arriving, there was a count of 23,600 of them, which was a strong number for the time of year, and suggests that they had a good breeding season.

Brent geese may be closely associated with Castle Espie, but snakes aren’t. St Patrick is famously said to have banished them back in the day, but in celebration of his feast day, you’ve got a chance to see the ones he left behind! On 17 March, we’ll have a special display of various snakes of the world – a fascinating experience.

Keep an eye on the exhibition area in January.

This is the Year of Food in Northern Ireland, and we’ve a great exhibition of patchwork quilts that have been specially made to reflect that theme. It’s yet another tasty reason to visit Castle Espie in the coming weeks.

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

Castle Espie Events (See page 47 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/castleespie) Daily Activities Until Sun 31 Jan Loose Thread Quilters: Food Quilting exhibition by the Loose Thread Quilters to celebrate Northern Ireland Year of Food 2016.

10am-4.30pm. Free.

Sat 6 Feb to Sun 20 Mar Nature Through Art The Nature Through Art exhibition features submissions from a number of local artists in a variety of media.

10am-5pm. Free.

Sat 26 Mar to Sun 8 May Ulster Society of

Women Artists The Ulster Society of Women Artists returns to the Castle Espie Gallery with its 2016 collection of works. 10am-5pm.

Free.

Thu 28 Jan Birdwatch Morning Birdwatching expert Dot Blakely is back on the lough on the lookout for overwintering birds.

10.30am-12.30pm.

Sat 30 & Sun 31 Jan The Owl Man The Owl Man is back at Castle Espie with a selection of awesome owls on display.

11am-4pm.

Sat 6 & Sun 7 Feb Bird Box-building Workshop Build a bird box love nest for wild birds at this workshop, suitable for all ages. 11am-4pm.

Additional £5 charge applies to take home.

some of their real-life cousins. A giant otter, nene, red-breasted goose and Bewick’s swan are just a few of the friendly faces you can find on this notto-be-missed trail.

11am-5pm.

Sat 13 Feb to Sun 20 Mar GIANT LEGO Brick Animal Trail From February half-term, the world’s most popular toy will bring families closer to nature at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre. The GIANT LEGO Brick Animal Trail will be here for five weeks, with the models sitting among

Weekends and Holidays Sat 13 Feb to Sun 20 Mar LEGO Brick Animal Workshops If meeting our GIANT animals isn’t exciting enough, you can also book into one of our interactive one-hour LEGO brick workshops, where you can make and take home a brick

duck. 1pm and 3pm. £8.50 PP. BE

on the reserve.

10.30am-12.30pm.

Mon 15 to Sun 21 Feb WWT Northern Ireland Puddle Jumping Championships Grab your wellies and make a splash jumping in puddles, for a chance to win prizes in the WWT Northern Ireland Puddle Jumping Championships.

Judging at 2pm every day. 10am-5pm.

Thu 17 Mar Celebrate St Patrick’s Day Discover the little laughing leprechauns hidden around the reserve and meet the snakes St Patrick forgot to banish, plus crafts and games.

11am-4pm.

Thu 25 Feb Birdwatch Morning Join birdwatching expert Dot Blakely to find out about the latest happenings

Thu 24 Mar to Sun 3 Apr Giant Easter Bunny Hunt Join us for our Easter egg-stravaganza and annual giant Easter bunny hunt with lots of activities across the holidays. 10am-5pm.

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D O W N YO U R WAY Llanelli

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

WWT LLANELLI WETLAND CENTRE If you like getting up close to birds, then why not follow the feed this winter? Each Sunday until 20 March, you can join the warden for the feeding of the birds in our collection. It’s a sight to behold!

Llanelli will be the place to be for St David’s Day, when cawl and Welsh cakes will be available in the café, while on 6 March, have a family get-together by celebrating Mother’s Day with us. And don’t forget that, at Easter, our popular GIANT Duck Hunt will be back for great entertainment to help you kick spring off in style.

Before then, winter at Llanelli is a treat for your senses. You can see incredible gatherings of waders as knot and dunlin wheel and glint out over the mudflats, while hundreds of lapwing and golden plover are spooked from the saltmarsh by a passing peregrine.

Listen out for the haunting sound of the curlew, too, while brent geese fly past in long skeins.

Meanwhile, in the Millennium Wetlands, secretive otters are out and about, and hungry birds can be spotted in the leafless trees. Flocks of tits, goldcrests and treecreepers roam together, while redwings and fieldfares munch up the remaining berries.

Look out for a wintering bittern and listen for the regular sound of the squealing water rails, hidden in the marginal vegetation.

If you need help with identification, so much of this and more can be seen in our February weekend and half-term Telescope in the Tower opportunity, during which a guide helps you pick out the species and discover more about them. You may find out why Llanelli has gained the name ‘egret magnet’, too. A cattle egret – only the second ever recorded in Carmarthenshire – and two great white egrets are among recent sightings, while no fewer than 50 little egrets have been roosting on the wetlands every night.

Redwing

Season’s highlight

Have you got what it takes to become the Welsh puddle-jumping champion?

Bring your wellies and prepare to make a splash!

Welsh Puddle Jumping Championships, 13-21 February

Llanelli Events (See page 47 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/llanelli) Daily Activities Every Mon 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.

Sundays until 20 Mar Follow the Feed Join one of our wardens on the afternoon bird feed.

Watch hundreds of ducks waddle alongside the wheelbarrow, as they excitedly swim and splash in anticipation of their afternoon meal

before the feeding frenzy begins!

This is a fantastic opportunity to see all of our collection birds close up and at their liveliest, and ask any questions about the birds we have here and how we look after them.

Suitable for all the family. 3.30-4.30pm.

Feb Weekends Activities all day with something for everyone!

Den-building and practice puddle jumping in preparation for our new puddlejumping competition to be held during February half-term: all day; Telescope in the Tower:

11am-12 noon; Family Birdwatching: 1-2pm; Craft Workshops: 2-4.30pm (small charge applies to cover cost of materials).

Sat 13 to Sun 21 Feb Welsh Puddle Jumping Championship Grab your wellies and make a splash for the judges this half-term.

Main competition at 2pm every day with prizes. Other activities include practice puddle jumping all day to prepare; den building: all day; Telescope in the Tower: 11am-12 noon; Family Birdwatching: 1-2pm; Craft workshop: 2-4.30pm (small charge applies to cover materials).

Fri 19 Feb & Sun 21 Feb Bird Nest Boxmaking Workshop The breeding season is upon us and your garden birds will be searching for suitable nest sites. Drop in to make your very own bird box to take home and put in your garden and hopefully give some fluffy chicks their first home! You will receive expert one-to-one instruction to help you complete your box. 11am-12 noon and 1-4pm. Drop in anytime. £7 per box.

Sun 28 Feb to Tue 1 Mar St David’s Day Celebrations Cawl and Welsh cakes in the café.

Sun 6 Mar Mother’s Day Special Lunch Menu Contact centre for details and to book. BE Mar Weekends Activities all day with something for everyone!

Self-guided Den-building: all day; Minibeast Hunt: 11am-12 noon; Family Birdwatching: 1-2pm; Craft Workshops: 2-4.30pm (small charge applies to cover cost of materials).

Fri 18 Mar Bat Walk Join us for an early-evening bat walk around the Millennium Wetlands and the grounds, to look and listen for bats.

Bat activities available for children from 6pm.

Bat walk at 6.30pm.

Hot drinks (tea, coffee or hot chocolate) and biscuits at the end.

Finishes at 8pm. £5 PC/PP. BE RI WP Fri 25 Mar to Mon 11 Apr Easter Holiday Fun Activities all day with something for everyone! GIANT Duck Hunt: all day; Minibeast Hunt and Mini Pond Dipping: 11am-12 noon; Flamingo Talk: 1pm; Flamingo Watch with Telescope: 1-2pm; Pond Dipping: 2.30pm; Craft Workshops and Hook a Duck: times vary, please check (small charge applies for craft materials).

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D O W N YO U R WAY London

WWT LONDON WETLAND CENTRE

Have splashing fun, jumping in puddles

WWT

As we approach Easter, it will be time to gear up for that family favourite, the GIANT Duck Hunt – a perfect way to prepare for the season of new life that lies ahead.

First, though, winter is always an exciting time for birdlife at London, but if you’re not really sure whether you can sort your shovelers from your shelducks, then our Guides in the Hide can help. They’re available daily from 11am to 1pm in the Peacock Tower and the Headley Discovery Hide to answer all your questions.

If you fancy stepping up a gear, then why not go Birdwatching with a Warden on 31 January?

There’s another opportunity on 5 March, and there’s so much to discover.

There’s so much to see, too. All going well, the bitterns that were appearing in the reedbeds before Christmas will still be about, while redwings and fieldfares, those vocal winter thrushes, will be flying by in flocks. Keep an eye out on the grazing marsh for bearded tits, those perky little reed-dwellers that often put in an appearance around this time of the year: listen out for their distinctive ‘ping’ call, which is often the first clue to their presence.

If you received a new camera for Christmas, and want to test out its settings and get the best from your wildlife photography, then our specially tailored courses can help. There’s one in each of January,

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

Season’s highlight

This February half-term, bring your wellies, your high spirits and your family, and get yourself ready for some serious puddle-jumping!

London Puddle Jumping Championships, 13-21 February

London Events (See page 47 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/london) Daily Activities Otter Feeds Meet the otters at feeding time, when our warden will tell you more about these amazing aquatic mammals.

11am and 2pm.

was created and gain an insight into the sort of wildlife that lives here. 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Feed the Birds Join a warden as he or she feeds the

Guide in the Hide (in the Peacock Tower and Headley Discovery Hide) Join one of WWT’s experienced birdwatchers, who will be on hand to point out unusual species and answer any questions you may have. 11am-1pm.

Guided Tours Learn how the centre

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beautiful and endangered birds in World Wetlands. 3pm.

Sat 23 Jan Introduction to Wildlife Photography The day will begin with an illustrated Feed the birds

session about understanding your camera and the basics of composition, followed by a practical photography session outside looking at the flora and fauna.

10am-4pm. £60 PP. BE Sun 31 Jan Birdwatching with a Warden The course will focus on birds currently on-site, their plumage, calls and behaviour. You’ll get tips on how to watch birds, including fieldcraft, what to listen out for and the differences between key species. 9.30-11am. £10 PP. BE

Fri 5 Feb Winter Wildlife Photography Course Photograph the winter wildlife wonders of the wetlands with practical guidance and tuition from wildlife photographer and tutor Iain Green.

Discover and learn about seasonal specialities of the reserve and how to photograph them. 10am-4pm. £60 PP. BE Sat 13 Feb Members’ Walk: Habitat Management On this walk around the reserve, the warden will explain

more about the work they do on the reserve, creating and managing the habitats for the wetland animals and plants that you see. 1pm. £2 PP. BE Sat 13 to Sun 21 Feb Puddle-jumping Join us for some splashing good fun. The London Puddle Jumping Championships are here throughout half-term, and points will be given for style, enthusiasm and splash! Bring wellies and wetweather gear.

10am-4pm.

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Bearded tit

February and March. If you’re wanting to switch your focus to the truly far distance, then don’t miss our star-gazing evening on 16 March. Meanwhile, in a special event for members on 13 February, you can tour the reserve with a warden and discover more about the way that it is managed for wildlife.

Sat 27 Feb to Sun 20 Mar Weekend Family Activities Enjoy a pond-dipping session to see what minibeasts are about and join us for a nature walk.

Get creative with our nature crafts.

Sat 5 Mar Spring Birdwatching Walk Our warden will guide you around the wildlife reserve to see what’s about and give you tips on fieldcraft and bird ID. Join us for a spring wander to see which amazing

Gadwall

waterbirds are about. And what’s more, the price includes breakfast in our café. 9.30-11am. £20 PP. BE Sat 12 Mar Members’ Walk: Reedbed Ramblings Join our reserve warden as he takes you on a 30-minute walk into our reedbeds – normally out of bounds to visitors – to explain their management, the wildlife that they support and how humans have relied on them for thousands of years. 1pm. £2 PP. BE

There’s work going on in the theatre at the moment, developing it into a brand-new interactive learning zone for schools. It’s the first stage in an exciting scheme to reshape the entire courtyard area at the centre. Watch out for further information online and in upcoming issues of Waterlife.

Wed 16 Mar Star-gazing Evening Come with us on this beginner’s guide to the galaxy. Expand your horizons by discovering more about the stars and planets in our solar system and the galaxies beyond! So wrap up warm and come and enjoy an evening among the stars. 6.30pm. £10 PP. BE Sat 19 Mar Introduction to Wildlife Photography Photographer and author Iain Green will guide you through your camera’s various automatic settings –

Enjoy our GIANT Easter Duck Hunt and then show you how to turn off the ‘automatic’ mode, but still get fantastic wildlife photos.

10am-4pm. £60 PP. BE Fri 25 Mar to Sun 10 Apr GIANT Easter Duck Hunt

Some of our ducklings have gone missing – can you help us find them? Follow our GIANT Easter duck trail around our beautiful nature reserve to discover where they are hiding.

9.30am-5.30pm.

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D O W N YO U R WAY Martin Mere

WWT MARTIN MERE WETLAND CENTRE Lottie the LEGO brick otter

WWT

If you haven’t seen them yet, there’s still time to catch the amazing LEGO® brick animals before they leave at the end of January for WWT Castle Espie. There were 10 of them, but there are now 11, thanks to the addition of a beautiful kingfisher figure. The Blue Peter team helped to build them on-site (see page 65), and your children can get brick-building themselves in our special workshops every weekend throughout January.

We’re running the Puddle Jumping Championships again, so popular last year, and in late March the canoe trails will be kicking off once more. As Easter approaches, the GIANT Duck Hunt will be under way, which is a true family favourite.

By now, there should be over 1,000 swans at Martin Mere, one of whom is rather special. Last year, one of the females was ringed with the letters ‘XLM’ – Roman numerals for 40, plus the centre’s initial – to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Martin Mere. This year, the good news is that she’s back. Her name? Ruby, of course.

You can see Ruby and the other swans every day at 3pm during the swan feed, which you can now watch from the new Discovery Hide. It was opened on 21 November, and none other than Welsh wildlife presenter Iolo Williams was among the first to use it.

It’s the perfect spot to get close to nature. The floodlit view of the swans every Tuesday in January is a treat not to be missed.

Kingfishers were showing well last year, so hopes are high that this could be a good year for them.

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

Benedict the Bewick’s swan

Martin Mere Events (See page 47 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.

Swan Spectacular Watch the spectacular sight of thousands of whooper swans, ducks and geese feeding on the mere at 3pm from the new Discovery Hide, and 3.30pm from Raines Observatory. The feeds includes a warden’s talk in which you can learn more about the incredible journeys of these majestic creatures.

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Guide in the New Discovery Hide Come along and meet a guide in our new Discovery Hide every day between 12.30pm and 3pm.

From the comfort and convenience of this great new hide, you’ll find out all about the swans, geese and ducks that can be seen visiting Martin Mere at this time of year.

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.

be able to enjoy spotting some of the UK’s most threatened species, ranging from water voles to reed buntings.

12 noon-4pm weekdays and 10.30am-4pm weekends/holidays. £6 per canoe (seats up to three).

Enjoy a fun Canoe Safari

Until 31 Jan GIANT Brick Animal Trail Come and meet our giant LEGO brick animals this winter at Martin Mere. Find them on our trail, take part in workshops (fee applies) and delve

deep into our GIANT play pit.

From Wed 23 March Canoe Safari Our self-guided canoe safari is a fun way to explore the reedbed habitat and its rich biodiversity. You will

Guided Boat Tours Take a peaceful tour of our wetlands and learn all about Martin Mere.

Enjoy watching wildlife, spotting dragonflies, listening for warblers and admiring the wild flowers. Please check at the information desk for times. £3 PP.

Every Weekend in January LEGO Brick Workshops Our one-hour workshops are perfect for LEGO brick fans – young and old! Get creative with our LEGO brick games and you will leave with your very own model to take home. 11am and 1pm. £8.50. Book online at wwt.org.uk/ martinmere. BE Until 28 Jan Exhibition: Deeply Beyond An exhibition by Mary Keenan showing the magnified world.

The exhibition will be

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Starling flock

Starlings have also been appearing in huge numbers at Martin Mere this winter; one flock – or murmuration, as it’s called – numbered more than 30,000 individuals, the biggest such group at the reserve since 2009. Watching them swirl around as they avoid the attentions of marsh harriers is one of nature’s great spectacles.

located in the main foyer at the centre.

All day.

Every Tue in Jan Floodlit Swans Enjoy watching thousands of whooper swans by floodlight at the Raines Observatory while chatting to our wardens, learning all about the incredible journeys these swans undertake. 6.30-8pm. £10.10 PP, £7.40 concessions, £4.90 PC.

An exhibition by textile artist and painter, Carol Dawber. The exhibition will be located in the main foyer at the centre.

All day.

Season’s highlight

From Benedict the Bewick’s swan to Lottie the otter, the LEGO brick animals are waiting to meet you at Martin Mere, and there are great play opportunities, too.

GIANT Brick Animal Trail, until 31 January

Sat 13 Feb to Sun 21 Feb North West Puddle Jumping Championships Bring along your wellies to make a

splash at the North West Puddle Jumping Championships every day at 2pm. 50p a go, with a daily winner getting a prize.

BE

Sat 13 Feb to Sun 21 Feb Feb Half-term Come along and make your own nest box to take home (extra charge applies) and see thousands of whooper swans and pink-footed geese as they journey to Martin Mere for the winter.

Mon 1 Feb to Sun 13 Mar Exhibition: Planted and Picked

Fri 26 Feb Birdwatching Morning Join Andy Bunting from In Focus to

Floodlit swans

develop your bird identification skills in the field and receive expert advice on using guides and choosing binoculars and telescopes. 7am12 noon. £22 PP. BE

Sat 27 Feb 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.

10am-4pm. £65 PP. BE

Sun 28 Feb Drawing and Painting Birds Join award-winning local artist and illustrator Tony Disley as he helps you to explore the process from drawing through to a finished painting of a bird subject.

10am-4pm. £50 PP. BE

Fri 25 to Mon 28 Mar Easter Weekend Take part in our GIANT plastic duck hunt race, as well as the reopening of Canoe Safari and boat tours, pond dipping and more.

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D O W N YO U R WAY Slimbridge

WWT SLIMBRIDGE WETLAND CENTRE With our first ever Puddle Jumping Championships during the February half-term holiday, and the everpopular GIANT Duck Hunt coming up at Easter, there’s plenty to enjoy at Slimbridge in the months ahead.

Swan-watching, for example, is better than ever before.

The Peng Observatory, which provides great views of the birds, particularly during the daily wild bird feeds, has been refurbished, and part of the new look is an exciting device. A swan-ring reader has been installed, which means you can now tell exactly which birds you’re watching. It’s a great way to find out more about the individuals and family groups on view.

Our thanks to Rolls-Royce, whose support helped to fund the ring reader.

If you’d like to spend even more time with the swans, there might still be places left at the special floodlit swan suppers on 14 and 15 January. You’d better book these quickly, however, as they’re going fast.

As last year, the cranes have been very active around the grounds at Slimbridge. Eleven of the birds that were released on the Somerset Levels have been regularly visiting the centre, along with the juvenile that was successfully hatched last year.

Many of them should be around throughout the winter, and we’re hoping for further breeding success after last year’s excitement.

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

Meet meerkats during our Really Wild Weekend

Season’s highlight

Here’s your chance to meet meerkats, armadillos, snakes and many more incredible critters from around the world as the Exotic Zoo comes to Slimbridge!

Really Wild Weekend, 13 & 14 February

Slimbridge Events (See page 47 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/slimbridge) Daily Activities Otter Talk: 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. Talks are at 11.30am and 3pm every day.

Toad Hall Talk Come to Toad Hall and hear Jay Redbond, our amphibian expert, give an insight into the world of amphibians and their habitats.

If you are brave enough, you will have the opportunity to hold some of his collection of frogs, toads and newts, and ask all those questions you have always wondered about. 2.15pm daily, plus 12.30pm at weekends and school holidays.

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Daily until Mon 29 Feb 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.

Crane Talk At the Back from the Brink Mesolithic hut.

Learn about our role in the Great Crane Project, which is aiming to reintroduce cranes into the South West, after these birds have been extinct in the UK for over 300 years. 2.30pm.

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

Until 27 Feb (Sat only) 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.

Until 28 Feb (Sat & Sun only) 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. £6 PP, £4 PC. Thu 14 & Fri 15 Jan Floodlit Swan Supper Experience the beauty and sounds of hundreds of wild swans on a floodlit lake before enjoying a delicious three-course meal at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

This is a truly unique

event, perfect for wildlife lovers. Winter migration brings rare beauties to WWT Slimbridge each year, including the enchanting Bewick’s swan from the tundra.

Settle into the warm Peng Observatory and watch these wild swans, geese and ducks as they are fed on a floodlit lake. The warden feeding the birds from a large barrow commentates on the feed, describing the impressive journey each species makes to reach Slimbridge, its winter home. Following the bird-feeding spectacle, guests head to the WWT Slimbridge restaurant to enjoy their own meal – this time a sumptuous threecourse one followed by tea and coffee! 6.15pm

for 6.30pm bird feed, followed by transfer to restaurant for meal. £29.95 PP. RI BE

Sat 6 Feb Wildlife Photography for Beginners – Iain Green Starting with an illustrated introductory session looking at composition, technique and equipment, you will then head outside for a practical session of nature photography.

Due to small course numbers, there will be plenty of time for one-to-one tuition.

This course is suitable for users of all types of camera and the content will be tailored accordingly and to the needs of course attendees. 10am-4pm. £60 PP. RI BE

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Swan feed

Keep an eye out for bitterns, too. One has been seen from the Zeiss Hide, and these are birds that often stay throughout the winter. In fact, you never know what you might see at Slimbridge: recent highlights have included a spoonbill, a semipalmated sandpiper and a whooper swan, in among the many Bewick’s.

Fri 12 Feb 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.

RI BE

Mon 13 Feb Birdwatch Morning Winter is a magical time on the reserve, with tens of thousands of birds spending winter 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, and boots or wellies needed.

8am. £15.95, includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll. RI BE

Sat 13 & Sun 14 Feb Really Wild Weekend Get up close to exotic animals from all over the world as we take you to see what lives in far-flung habitats such as rainforests and deserts. Meet meerkats, armadillos, young crocodiles, snakes and minibeasts and face your fears along the way, getting hands-on! The animals will be at WWT Slimbridge for one weekend only, courtesy of the Exotic Zoo, which is regularly featured on Blue Peter.

Sessions last an hour and include a fun, interactive talk in our cinema before getting the chance to see species up close and ask further questions.

Sessions will run at 10am, 11am, 12 noon,

1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Sessions are only £3.50 for members – non-member prices on website. There are limited places, so book online now to avoid disappointment on the day. BE Sat 13 to Sun 21 Feb (Feb Half-term) Slimbridge’s Puddle Jumping Championships February half-term will see WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre play host to the South West’s Puddle Jumping Championships.

Wrap up warm, grab your wellies and jump into the puddles for a chance to win prizes. Puddles will be available all day for that essential practice before the

There’s plenty going on indoors, too, where we’ve now had Wi-Fi installed. Meanwhile, our amphibian expert, Jay Redbond, has been breeding several golden dart frogs as well as his first-ever Anatolian newt, a striking species with prominent spots on its body. Come and see these amazing amphibians at Toad Hall.

competition starts. This is a free event; please visit the website for further details.

Sun 24 Feb 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. RI BE Sat 27 Feb Birdwatch Morning Winter is a magical time on the reserve, with tens of thousands of birds spending winter 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 and boots or wellies needed. 8am. £15.95, includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll.

RI BE

Sun 6 Mar Mother’s Day Lunch Enjoy the beautiful sights of our flamingo flock as you celebrate Mother’s Day with your family in the Water’s Edge Café. Book a table for our delicious two-course Mother’s Day Lunch which is £12.99 PP or £6.95 PC. See the menu on our website for details.

To book a table, call 01453 891223.

Sat 12 Mar & Sat 26 Mar Crane Special Birdwatch Morning Go in search of

the cranes on the Slimbridge 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 and boots or wellies will be needed.

8am. £15.95, which includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll.

RI BE

Fri 25 Mar to Sun 10 Apr GIANT Duck Hunt A group of oversized ducks have decided to visit Slimbridge this Easter holidays.

Can you spot them as they hide themselves in various places around the grounds?

Pick up an activity sheet on your arrival.

9.30am-5.30pm.

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D O W N YO U R WAY Washington

WWT WASHINGTON WETLAND CENTRE As Easter approaches, the highly popular LEGO® brick animals will be arriving: you’ll be able to follow their trail from 24 March onwards. The new saline lagoon hide is also due to open by the spring, and it will provide wonderful views of the lagoon as well as the River Wear. It will be the perfect place to enjoy your wildlife watching: for more information, see page 10.

There’s so much wildlife to watch at this time of year.

Washington is well known for its high numbers of bullfinches, and the herons will soon be returning to their nesting sites for the new season. As they fight for the best nest space, battling against the wind, they make a dramatic sight. Keep an eye out for avocets, too: these charismatic waders arrived in February last year, and we’re hoping for a repeat performance. As a beautiful backdrop, ramsons, blackthorn, hawthorn and snowdrops will all soon be bursting into life.

Work is under way at the Close Encounters area for a few weeks, while exciting new features are added before reopening in time for Easter. There’ll be a new Eider Island, plus a tropical plant exhibit, a new bridge, a small waterfall and an improved hand-feeding area for ducks.

The whole area will be fully accessible, too. In the meantime, you can still hand-feed birds in Ganderland.

The bird collection really starts to get active at this time of year. The shelduck get feisty and the Carolina wood and mandarin ducks start showing off, while over at Hunter’s Creek the hooded mergansers will be looking magnificent and the whistling ducks will be very vocal. The real indication that spring is in the air comes in March, when the first nene chicks should be hatching.

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

Male eider duck

Season’s highlight

This half-term, bring your family along for the very first North East Puddle Jumping Championships: great fun guaranteed for all!

North East Puddle Jumping Championships, 13-21 February

Washington Events (See page 47 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 as they devour tasty fish at commentated feeds.

11.30am and 3pm.

Flamingo Talks Learn more about our Chilean flamingo flock and its conservation breeding success story.

11.45am and 3.15pm.

First Sat of the month – 6 Feb, 5 Mar Guide in a Hide Discover more about our wild birds with the help of our guide, on site from 10am-12 noon and 2-4pm. Check on arrival for details of which hide they’re in.

First Sat of the month – 6 Feb, 5 Mar Walking with Wildfowl

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Learn about our rare waterbird collection on a guided walk with our aviculture expert and hear about how WWT is playing a vital role in their survival. Meet in the picture window at reception at 2pm.

Third Sat of the month – 16 Jan, 20 Feb, 19 Mar Walk with a Warden Join our reserve manager as he leads a guided tour around our site, taking in the sights, sounds and seasonal wildlife. Meet in the picture window at reception at 2pm.

Fourth Sun of the month – 24 Jan, 28 Feb, 27 Mar Walk with a Warden Take a walk with our reserve warden as he

shows visitors the latest seasonal highlights around the site. Meet in the picture window at reception at 2pm.

Fourth Sun of the month – 24 Jan, 28 Feb, 27 Mar In Focus Check out the latest in optical equipment and chat to the In Focus experts. A percentage of every sale is donated to WWT. For details, call In Focus on 01484 864 729 or log on to at-infocus.co.uk.

Throughout the day in the picture window.

Sat 13 Feb Day Trip to WWT Caerlaverock Come with us to our Scottish centre.

Caerlaverock – star of Autumnwatch 2015 – is

a spectacular reserve on the north Solway coast, with wintering birds including tens of thousands of Svalbard barnacle geese. Please dress suitably for the weather. A change of shoes will be needed for the coach. Coach leaves at 9am, returning 5pm. £17 PP and £9 PC. BE Call or email centre.

Sat 13 to Sun 21 Feb WWT North East Puddle Jumping Championships Grab your wellies and join us for our national puddle jumping championships – WWT’s Big Splash! No matter what your age or puddle-jumping ability, everyone is welcome.

Daily winners will enter a draw to win a grand prize at the end of the

week, with a chance to go on to further glory by becoming regional and national champions.

Find out more at wwt. org.uk/bigsplash. Plus join us for seasonal crafts in the Discovery Centre. Puddle jumping daily at 2pm; crafts daily 1-3.30pm, small costs apply.

Sun 6 Mar Mother’s Day lunches Treat your loved one to a delicious two-course meal in the Waterside Café, overlooking our spectacular barnacle geese, wigeon, Eurasian Cranes and other waterbirds.

Lunch served 12 noon-2pm. £14.95 PP and £6.95 PC. BE. Please call 0191 416 5454 ext 235 for menu choices and booking.

Thu 24 Mar to Sun 10 Apr LEGO Brick Animals and Easter Weekend GIANT Duck Hunt The UK’s only giant LEGO brick wetland animal trail comes to Washington. Take part in LEGO brick workshops and make a duckling to take home. Plus join our annual Easter weekend GIANT duck hunt.

LEGO brick trail throughout the day; daily LEGO brick workshop times TBC; Easter weekend GIANT duck hunt throughout the day (Fri 25 to Mon 28 Mar). LEGO brick workshops £8.50 PP; GIANT duck hunt £1 PP. BE for LEGO brick workshops – expect them to sell out fast!

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Welney

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

WWT WELNEY WETLAND CENTRE Half-term is the time to make a splash. The first Puddle Jumping Championships will give families the chance to test out their wellies. Make sure you bring your camera.

Talking of cameras, if you’d really like to make the most of your wildlife photography this year, then why not book yourself into David Featherbe’s photography workshop on 20 and 21 February? It’s a great way to make sure you capture the sights of Welney.

And what sights they are, as this is the time of year when the wintering birds at Welney are at their peak. If last year is anything to go by, there should be some 10,000 swans in the Fens in all: unusually, this winter, the Bewick’s and the whoopers arrived only about a week apart. Watching them skating on the ice as they try to get their footing is a great spectacle, and their attempt to find unfrozen water usually brings them even closer to the hides.

Bean geese often turn up in January, so keep an eye out for them, and huge flocks of wigeon are grazing in the grassland, while pochards, which have been struggling in recent years (see page 10), can be seen easily at Welney.

Black-tailed godwits will be arriving in flocks of up to around 3,000 and, if the weather is mild, you can expect to see avocets before Easter. Most unusually, tree sparrows have been using the birdtable this year.

Wherever there are large flocks, predators are not far away, and Welney is known for its range of birds of prey.

Peregrine, merlin, hen harrier, short-eared owl and roughlegged buzzard are all spotted around this time of year.

As are huge ducks! Yes, as Easter arrives, it’ll be time for the GIANT Duck Hunt again, a family event not to be missed.

Short-eared owl

Season’s highlight

There’s a host of ways that you can get to know our swans better than ever before at our superb festival in January!

Festival of Swans, 16 and 17 January

Welney Events (See page 47 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/welney) Daily Activities Swan Feeds Join us for our fantastic commentated swan feeds at lunchtime or later in the afternoon.

3.30pm (until Sun 13 Mar) and 12 noon (until Sun 13 Mar).

Floodlit Swan Feeds 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. 6.30pm (every Thu to Sun until Sun 28 Feb).

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. 2-3pm (every Mon, Thu & Sat until Mon 29 Feb).

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Sat 16, Sun 17 Jan, Sat 13, Wed 17 Feb Swans Awake Join us as dawn breaks across the Washes to watch thousands of swans wake up from their roosting sites on the reserve. It’s worth

the early start! Dawn event, see website for individual event times. £10 PP, £5 PC. Optional breakfast £6.95. BE WP Sat 16, Sun 17 Jan Festival of Swans Get to know our swans and the journeys they make with a range of activities to take part in.

Sat 6 Feb & Sat 5 Mar Willow-weaving Workshops Join expert willowweaver Jane Frost for a day teaching you how to create garden structures and basket forms from natural materials. Contact Jane Frost to book at jane@

frostart.co.uk or on 01353 861944. 10am4pm. £55 PP. BE Tue 9 Feb Fauna of Blakeney Point Talk An evening talk by Ajay Tegala. All welcome. Funds raised go towards WWT’s work at Welney.

7.30-9.30pm. £3 (£2 Friends of Welney Members).

Sat 13 to Sun 21 Feb Puddle Jumping Championships See if you can make the biggest splash this half-term! Take part in the competition, enjoy trails and activities throughout the day and

watch commentated swan feeds. WA Sat 20 & Sun 21 Feb Wildlife Photography Workshop Learn how to get the best from your camera with expert David Featherbe. Access the wildlife photo hide for eye-level access to swans and ducks and explore for wild hares.

Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 7am-1pm. £60 PP. BE

Tue 8 Mar A Living Coast Talk An evening talk by David Tipling. All welcome. Funds raised go towards WWT’s work at Welney.

7.30-9.30pm. £3 (£2 Friends of Welney Members).

Fri 25 Mar to Sun 10 Apr GIANT Duck Hunt Hunt the reserve for some very naughty Giant Yellow Ducks who have become lost. Take part in the hunt, meet underwater creatures at pond dipping, and enjoy trails and activities throughout the day.

Mon 28 Mar Wetland Safari Explore our wetlands with guided activities to help you get closer to some amazing wildlife.

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS AT EXCLUSIVE SPECIALIST RETAILERS AND ONLINE AT WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM

BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II SWAROVSKI OPTIK SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS

CL COMPANION

ALWAYS AT YOUR FINGER TIPS Every moment counts when observing nature, as there are many species that only make a rare appearance, like the shy kingfisher. Thanks to their compact size, you can always have the CL Companion binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK at your fingertips. Their unique design ensures maximum ease of use, while their excellent optics produces outstanding, high-luminosity images. Equipped for every eventuality, you’ll always have the robust, extremely watertight CL Companion binoculars by your side, which are the ideal companion for making nature observation an amazing experience. Enjoy moments even more – with SWAROVSKI OPTIK.

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D O W N YO U R WAY Steart Marshes

Stert Drove, Bridgwater Somerset TA5 2PU 01278 651090 | steart.wwt.org.uk/visit WWT Steart Marshes

WWT STEART MARSHES One of the first things you’ll notice when you visit Steart in the winter is the colour. You’ll see yellows, reds and oranges, all provided by a variety of willow species that we planted on the reserve. They’ve got some fabulous names – Dicky Meadows, Brittany Green and Flanders Red to name just three – and we sourced them from a local business, Musgrove Willows.

We didn’t just choose them for the colours of their winter bark: one day they’ll play a part in the willow-weaving activities that will be taking place on the reserve.

Talking of activities... from January, you’ll start to notice that there’s more going on. We’ll be setting up a number of events through the year, and you’ll be able to follow the sightings on the website. It’s all part of our drive to engage more and more people with the wonders of Steart.

And what wonders they are. Short-eared owls are regularly seen around dusk: there are sightings from the Steart Gate car park, the Mendip Hide and the old Parrett banks on the eastern edge of the site. The reserve has recorded nearly 400 wintering snipe, while by early November some 1,300 redshank were roosting on-site. Shelducks will soon be looking for nesting sites, and we’ve been managing the islands to cater for them.

One of the sounds of Steart during the nesting season is the song of the skylark, and you’ll be able to hear these birds, of

Shelducks

Shelducks will soon be looking for nesting sites, and we’ve been managing the islands to cater for them

which there are many, towards late March. The song of the skylark is already thought of as one of the great sounds of Steart. Before then, take a look at Stockland Marshes, a part of the reserve that is essentially a freshwater winterflooded meadow. Good numbers of pintail, little grebe and kingfisher are there.

To aid your wildlife-watching, in September we doubled the number of hides at Steart Marshes to four. Two opened a year ago – these are the Polden Hide, with good views across the Flashes, where you can see plenty of roosting waders, and the Mendip Hide, which overlooks the first lagoon, and provides distant views of the Brecon Beacons. These two hides provide vistas across the tidal marshes.

The two new hides, which are connected and known as the Quantock View Hides, look out across the regulated tidal exchange area, where we hold up water to manage the flooding process. This is brackish water, and teal, ruff and snipe are among the species to look out for. If you’re lucky, you might see a spoonbill there, too.

There are exciting times ahead at Steart, and you can Skylark find out more about the latest magical reserve managed

by WWT at steart.wwt.org.uk.

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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Classified directory

To advertise please contact Daniel Haynes on 020 3771 7214 or daniel.haynes@thinkpublishing.co.uk

ACCOMMODATION

SLIMBRIDGE FORESTERS B&B OFFERS!

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

Laura Ashley beamed spacious ensuite bedrooms. Stay any three nights Sun - Fri £34 pppn (dbl occ). Stay 4 nts get 5th for £25 for two!! 1nt stay -£78 and single occ £48. Many attractions including NT in easy travelling distance.

Open xmas week.

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

Caerlaverock Cottages

FARAWAY Carmarthenshire Modern, 1 double bed, self-catering apartment. Countryside views.

5mins from sea. 25mins from WWT Llanelli. Short Breaks. £60/night.

For a brochure please call: 07967 365805 or Email us on: faraway41or2@gmail.com

PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK

BIRDIN G

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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

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.

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IN

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SP A 20/11/2015 IN

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MARTIN MERE, LANCASHIRE CROOK HALL FARM COTTAGES

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Holiday Lets set within a National Senic Area of outstanding beauty available for short breaks or weekly bookings, all within 1/2 mile of WWT Caerlaverock, NNR and Caerlaverock Castle.

A nature lovers paradise.

The migrating geese graze in the surrounding fields around the properties.

E-mail: jamiecowan2000@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 07711583320 www.hollinscottage.co.uk www.bankswoodcottage.co.uk www.blossomholidaycottage.co.uk www.keepersholidaycottage.co.uk

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Holiday Cottages

The Old Cider House, one double bedroom. Tranquil riverside location, paradise for walkers, cyclists and bird watchers.

Convenient for WWT Slimbridge.

WWW.PRIDINGFARM.COM 01452 741613

www.crookhallfarmcottages.co.uk

01704 822389

Properties throughout Scotland Discover your Scotland, 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!

• A cosy, 4 star self catering, first floor apartment suitable for 2 adults • Views over private lake, WWT lagoons and extending, to Strangford Lough, from every room • Two minutes walk from Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in stunning Co Down

Full details on our website: www.theloftcastleespie.com

01556 504030 discoverscotland.net

Mob: +44 (0) 79 7197 3939 Email: jennymorrowhome@yahoo.co.uk

EQUIPMENT Crook Hall Farms_WWT_JanMar_15.indd 20/11/2014 1 OldCiderHouse_WWT_OctDec_15.indd 14:40SLIMBRIDGE 11/08/2015 1 16:54 CAERLAVEROCK

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TUDOR ARMS Self-catering ground floor flat for two in Glencaple village close to WWT. Recently renovated to high standard. Very comfortable with multi-fuel stove and small sunny garden. In winter barnacles fly past morning and evening. This is a nature lover’s paradise.

Real Ale, Real Food Pub with 18 well appointed ensuite bedrooms ETB4* 10 Minute Stroll from WWT Slimbridge and situated adjacent to Gloucester-Sharpness Canal CAMRA awards 2007-2013

www.glencapleholiday.co.uk Tel: 01387 770348 Email: sue_greig@yahoo.co.uk

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

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CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY

EQUIPMENT

THE BIRDERS STORE

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.

7 King Charles Place, St John’s, Worcester WR2 5AJ Tel: 01905 312877 Email: sales@birders-store.co.uk Open: 9am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday Birders Store_WWT_JanMar_16.indd 1

04/12/2015 10:57

WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS

CRUISE THE HEBRIDES

Wales, puffins, red kites and thousands of starlings, seals, otters, dolphins sights and sounds to remember forever From single days out to week-long holidays throughout the year, contact: 0845 052 3533 info@welshwildlifebreaks.co.uk www.welshwildlifebreaks.co.uk

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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!

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

Local & scientific knowledge

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

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.

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FREE Guide to selling your

Timeshare “We want freedom of choice” Waterlife readers can receive a £30 voucher redeemable at over 120 high street stores including Waterstones, M&S and John Lewis*

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B AC K C H AT

barney storms in

Sam Stafford/WWT

Barney wheels the mallard into place

Blue Peter presenter Barney Harwood helps to bring brick animals to life at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre The timing was uncanny.

On the very day that the Blue Peter team arrived at WWT Martin Mere to film the assembly of the LEGO® brick animal trail, Storm Barney struck. For part of the day, gales, hail and pounding rain were the backdrop, but were spirits dampened? Not one jot, thanks to another Barney, who was the true star of the day: Barney Harwood, the irrepressible Blue Peter presenter.

His energy, despite the elements, was infectious.

He had previously been filmed for the popular children’s show helping to pack and load up the brick animals at the end of their stint at WWT London Wetland Centre. Now he was at the other end of their journey, unwrapping them, getting them into position and even helping to build a new figure, a kingfisher, which was making its first appearance within the brick

Barney on…

…brick animals ‘I think these figures are a great idea, because they really engage children’s imagination. The fact that they’re constructed from toy bricks means that they’re part of the world that kids live in. The next time they see a photo of an otter, or a kingfisher, they’ll feel connected. “I know about that,” they can say, and that’s a good feeling to have.

‘Of course, once the kids come to see the brick animals, you’ve got them outside, and that gives them the chance to learn about the environment. I think that’s so important. I try to get out with my nephews as much as possible, taking them out and about in my camper van, exploring new places. They love it!’

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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B AC K C H AT Sam Stafford/WWT

Barney on…

…photography ‘I remember once thinking that life is so busy, there’s a danger you might look back and forget some of the things you did, so I decided to take up photography to keep a record.

One day, I was in Costa Rica, and I took a photo of an owl grabbing a possum. It was an amazing sight, and I now have it on record. I think it’s even on a database somewhere.

From that moment on, I was hooked.

‘I always say to people: even if you don’t have a camera, just a phone, take as many photos as you can.

I think kids should start photography as young as possible, and places like Martin Mere are so brilliant for this. By taking photos of birds, you get to find out more about their behaviour, because you’re watching them closely to get the perfect shot.’

Reserve Manager Tom Clare (left) with Barney

Are your kids Blue Peter badge holders? If so, did you know that they can visit WWT wetland centres for free? That’s a real badge bonus!

Blue Peter film crew on site, even though at one point they wrapped me up in bubble wrap along with Lottie the

otter!’ she says. ‘Tom and I really enjoyed the filming, and a childhood dream came true for me. Because I was on the show, I was awarded… a Blue Peter badge!’

While he was at Martin Mere, Barney made the most of his day, and here we can reveal the behind-the-scenes action in words and pictures.

Filming for Blue Peter at Martin Mere

d/WWT Sam Staffor

menagerie. The show was broadcast early in December.

‘Spending the morning photographing birds with Barney, including the crowned crane family in the aviary and stunning swans out on the reserve, was great,’ says Tom Clare, Reserve Manager at Martin Mere. ‘It was good to be able to share tips on camera with the Blue Peter viewers, inspiring the next generation of photographers and nature lovers.

I’m sure Barney will be back at Martin Mere soon.’

Visitor Marketing Manager Hannah Clifford agrees. ‘It was great having the

Barney on… WWT centres

‘Growing up in Blackpool, I remember there were basically three types of school day out.

One was a visit to a power station, one was to Jodrell Bank and the third was to Martin Mere. Guess which one I preferred!

‘It was great to be back, and spend time in the aviary taking photos of the crowned crane family, including a young crowned crane that recently hatched there.

They really performed for

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the camera. It was great fun!

‘On the day we arrived to film for Blue Peter, Martin Mere was opening its new Discovery Hide.

I was one of the first to use it and, I tell you what, it’s not like your grandad’s shed! It’s comfortable, it’s got great views, and I really enjoyed taking photos of everything from swans to rainbows. If you’ve not been there yet, try getting along.

‘I really enjoyed my time in London, too, and spent time in the Discovery Hide there, taking plenty of photos. I was amazed by how close it was to the centre of London – you can even see the Shard – yet how packed it was with wildlife.

‘You know what? I love my job!’

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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04/12/2015 10:33

Binoculars & Telescopes Explorer WA Oasis-C

Savanna R

The Explorer WA Oasis-C offers an unbeatable combination of specification, quality and ergonomics and are an ideal choice for anyone wanting a wide-angle binocular in a full size 8x42 or 10x42. Featuring the our trademark compact optical system philosophy, both models combine wide-field vision with crisp, clear images plus long eyerelief for spectacles wearers.

The all-new Opticron Savanna R shares many of the features of it’s sister porro prism packaged into a single axis roof prism body. Like their sister models, the Savanna R close in to just 52mm making them suitable for children age 7 and over.

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Measuring 205mm (50) / 252mm (60), an MM3 weighs about the same as pair of 42mm binoculars and can be used without a support for crystal clear flat-field observation at low magnification. Unlike binoculars, they continue to deliver stunning clarity and definition up to 36x (50mm) and 45x (60mm).

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

IS 60 R IS 60 R spottingscopes offer high levels of performance and versatility in a compact, lightweight body. Designed for the first-time user, frequent traveller and those on a budget they are available in 60mm standard and 60mm ED with the option of straight-through or 45° angled viewing.

Save 10% on selected IS 60 R kits(1) IS 60 R + IS 18-54x + WP Case £299 IS 60 R/45 + IS 18-54x + WP Case £299 IS 60 R ED + HR2 16-48 + WP Case £449 IS 60 R ED/45 + HR2 16-48 + WP Case £449 Available from stockists nationwide. Please call us for details.

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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

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04/12/2015 10:55 10:33 24/11/2015