Welney WWT
15 November 2019
10:00 to 13:10
Welney WWT is the same distance away as the Suffolk or Norfolk coast for me - but easily to overlooked as a weekend birding location, in favour of coastal birding. It is, however, always superb in the winter months. Our visit produced the expected swans, geese and ducks with a constant accompaniment of waders; Lapwing, Golden Plover and Black-tailed Godwit commuting overhead.
Owing to persistent rain in October and the first half of November much of the reserve was under water - with the paths to access hides literally under water and containing feeding Mute Swans. This left this the main observatory and two 'wing' hides accessible during our visit. These hides view the Hundred Foot Drain, which was sufficient to give crippling views of Whooper Swans, Pochard as well as hunting Peregrine and Marsh Harrier.
To the east and the other side of the New Bedford River and Station Road is the main visitor centre which gives views over Lady Fen. Lady Fen played host to a flock of Pink-footed Geese and no less than 3 Great White Egrets as well as masses of Wigeon, Teal, Lapwing, Golden Plover and Black-tailed Godwit. Occasionally a loafing Marsh Harrier would shuffle the feeding birds producing spiralling flocks - with Lapwing sometimes lining the horizon.
A killer reserve and must visit during winter.
Visited Sites
Recommended Literature
Species List
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Graylag Goose
Anser anser
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WWT Welney
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Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchus
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WWT Welney
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Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
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WWT Welney (Introduced)
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Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
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WWT Welney
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Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnus
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Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
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WWT Welney
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Gadwall
Mareca strepera
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelope
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WWT Welney
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Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
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WWT Welney
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Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
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WWT Welney
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Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca
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WWT Welney
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Common Pochard
Aythya ferina
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Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
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WWT Welney
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Common Wood-Pigeon
Columba palumbus
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Coot
Fulica atra
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WWT Welney
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European Golden-Plover
Pluvialis apricaria
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WWT Welney
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Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
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WWT Welney
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Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa
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WWT Welney
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Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
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WWT Welney
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Common Redshank
Tringa totanus
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WWT Welney
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Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
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WWT Welney
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Common Gull
Larus canus
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WWT Welney
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Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
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WWT Welney
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Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
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WWT Welney
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Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
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WWT Welney
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Great Egret
Ardea alba
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WWT Welney
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Gray Heron
Ardea cinerea
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WWT Welney
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Western Marsh Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
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WWT Welney
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Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
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WWT Welney
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Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Jackdaw
Corvus monedula
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WWT Welney
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Rook
Corvus frugilegus
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WWT Welney
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Carrion Crow
Corvus corone
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensis
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WWT Welney
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European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
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WWT Welney
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Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
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WWT Welney
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European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
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WWT Welney
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Dunnock
Prunella modularis
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WWT Welney
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House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
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WWT Welney
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Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanus
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WWT Welney
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European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
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WWT Welney
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Last updated: 16 November 2019