Autumn Adventures at Washington Wetland Centre
Autumn is upon us and the change in season brings a host of exciting new things to do and discover at Washington Wetland Centre
This time of year is all about migratory journeys – large-scale nature on the move and at its most visceral – and out on the wild reserve, we turn our eyes skywards to welcome the first over-wintering migrants at Wader Lake.
Escape the everyday and take some time out in the waterside hides, with black-tailed godwit, greenshank, knot and various sandpiper arriving; snipe and whimbrel dropping in to refuel en route elsewhere and skeins of majestic geese passing noisily overhead. The sights and sounds are not to be missed!
Autumn’s rich palette and gentle light lends this site’s diverse mix of habitats and their wildlife a magical glow – an ideal challenge for photographers to try and capture – and a mindful wander offers endless skies and evolving landscapes to experience and enjoy.
Watch redwing and fieldfare feasting on berry-laden trees, as the woodlands become sheltered sanctuaries for brambling and redpoll, mating bats and young owls looking for territories.
Stop a while in Hawthorn Wood hide or pause at the Lookout viewing screen and see species including bullfinch, nuthatch and great-spotted woodpecker gorging on fatballs and seeds.
'Autumn’s rich palette and gentle light lends this site’s diverse mix of habitats and their wildlife a magical glow – an ideal challenge for photographers to try and capture'
Spending time with like-minded people is a great way to connect with nature. In September and October, why not join a warden-led wetland walk or evening bat event and learn more about the amazingly varied nature that calls this wild reserve home?
Or if you’re more about spotting that one star species, the saline lagoon won’t disappoint, with regular sightings of elusive kingfisher during autumn. Read their blog for top tips on where to find them and how to spot them.
Wetlands are not only spectacular to visit at this time of year; they’re also lifelines, providing water, food or habitat for almost all species, including more than a billion of us humans.
And yet, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests – 35 percent have disappeared since 1970.
Become a WWT member and you’ll be supporting the charity’s mission to help protect and restore vital wetlands for generations, while visiting as often as you like to watch every season unfold and see the tangible difference your donation is making.
