12 April 2006

Displaying wading birds should be the stars on guided walks at the RSPB’s Nene Washes near Peterborough in the next few weeks.

Four species of waders can be seen displaying at the Nene Washes. The black-tailed godwit is one of the rarest breeding birds in the UK: about 40 pairs, some three-quarters of the UK’s nesting godwits, are found here.

This is no little brown job: it is a large, orange wading bird with a very long straight bill and long legs. In flight it shows a white wing-stripe and a black and white tail and has a loud 'weeka-weeka-weeka' call.

Black-tailed Godwit

Redshanks yodel ‘tu-udle, tu-udle’ in their display flight.

Lapwings displaying use their well-known wheezing 'pee-ee-wit' call. It’s also known as the peewit in imitation of its display calls; the lapwing name describes its wavering flight.

Birds of prey can include both marsh harriers and barn owls hunting over the washes. Spring migrants could include the rare and beautiful garganey in among the breeding ducks.

The next in a series of Sunday afternoon guided walks at the RSPB’s Nene Washes nature reserve – known locally as the Whittlesey Washes – is on 16 April at 6pm and they continue on every other Sunday until 28 May.

RSPB staff and volunteers will be running the walks starting at the car park at the end Eldernell, near Coates. Bookings for places on the guided walks can be made by telephoning 01733 205140. Each walk is expected to last about two hours. Families and beginners welcome; children should be accompanied by an adult. Sorry no dogs. The cost is adults £3, children £1, RSPB and RSPB Wildlife Explorer members half price.

Further information
Charlie Kitchin, Nene Washes reserve 01733 205140
07711 157859 (mobile)

Photographs: the attached photo of a black-tailed godwit was taken by Nene Washes warden Charlie Kitchin at the nature reserve. Other photographs of birds are available from Chris Durdin or Alex Henry or at the RSPB’s Eastern England regional office on 01603 660066 or email chris.durdin@rspb.org.uk or alex.henry@rspb.org.uk

Note for editors
1 The full programme of walks is as follows:
16 April 6 pm
30 April 7 pm
14 May 7 pm
28 May 7 pm

2 The RSPB in the Fens: the RSPB intends to create 5,000 hectares of new wetlands in the Fens in the next 20 years, and is part of the Wet Fens Partnership that is promoting wetland creation. New wetlands will prove a lifeline for birds and other wildlife, and provide local communities and visitors a chance to discover the unique fenland environment. The RSPB manages wet grazing marshes at the Ouse and Nene Washes in Cambridgeshire and is creating new freshwater wetlands at Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk, at the Hanson-RSPB wetland project at Needingworth in Cambridgeshire and adjacent to the Wash at Freiston Shore and Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire.