18 wigeon on New Year's Day
We were closed to visitors because of high winds on the first day of 2025 but our outdoor teams were in Jan 1 2025. Stopping into Ramsar , Sand martin and Scrape hides despite the winds to count 42 lapwing and 18 wigeon on the large lagoon. Saw a kingfishers as well as a marsh harrier. The bonus was a greater black-backed gull which we only see occasionally - one for the 2025 list! The greater black-backed gull was still around in the afternoon while 20 teal were on the water, the males were displaying, as well.
Back to Boxing Day we had 2 firecrest sightings and a goldcrest on Dec 30th.
Jan 1 2025
Large lagoon between Ramsar hide and Sand Martin hide: 42 lapwings, 2 snipe, 1 kingfisher,1 marsh harrier, 1 greater-black backed gull, 13 shelducks, 18 wigeon, 20 teal, 1 grey heron
Scrape hide: 2 shelducks, 24 mallards, 4 Canada geese, 10 shoveler, 2 gadwall.
Picnic area: mixed tit flocks, robin, dunnock, flock of goldfinches.
Tues 31 Dec
Scrape hide: 1 kingfisher in approach to hide pond, 2 shelducks, 3 shovelers
Arun Riverlife: 3 pochards, 1 kingfisher.
Large lagoon between Ramsar hide and Sand Martin hide: 23 greylag geese, 30 lapwings, 12 Canada geese, 14 shoveler, 5 tufted ducks, 14 shelducks, 2 cormorants, 5 coots, 2 moorhens, 7 gadwall, 69 mallards, 2 carrion crows, 2 herring gulls, 2 black-headed gulls, 1 grey heron, 1 wood pigeon.
Mon 30 Dec
Large lagoon between Ramsar hide and Sand Martin hide: 14 shelducks, 70 lapwings, 1 kingfisher
Scrape hide: 1 goldcrest in hedge on approach to hide
Long path ditch: 1 juvenile pochard.
Sun 29 Dec
Wetland Discovery: 28 mallards, 10 tufted ducks, 2 Canada geese, 1 grey heron, 1 coot, 1 pochard
Large lagoon between Ramsar hide and Sand Martin hide:3 snipe, 13 shelducks, 56 lapwing
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 kingfisher, 1 pochard
Pelican Cove: 1 pochard
Sat 28 Dec
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 34 Canada geese, 8 greylag geese, 1 little egret, 1 grey heron, 1 wigeon, 32 mallards, 2 cormorants, 3 pochards, 3 tufted ducks, 2 coots, 3 carrion crows, 1 moorhen, 4 mute swans, 1 kingfisher
Pelican Cove: 1 pochard
Wetland Discovery: 13 tufted ducks
Large lagoon between Ramsar hide and Sand Martin hide:4 snipe: 50 lapwings, 1 kingfisher
Fri 27 Dec
Large lagoon between Ramsar hide and Sand Martin hide:30 lapwings, 1 marsh harrier, 14 shelducks, 22 eal, 2 wigeon, 2 snipe
Wetland Discovery: 1 green woodpecker
Long Path ditch: 1 pochard
Scrape hide: 18 teal, 9 shovelers, 2 shelducks, 1 kingfisher
Woodland Loop: 1 moorhen, 15 mallards, 3 blackbirds, 2 robins, 6 great tits, 10 blue tits, 4 chaffinches, 1 wood pigeon, 2 goldfinches, 2 dunnocks, 1 coal tit, 2 green finch
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 2 pochards
Pelican cove: 1 pochard
Thurs 26 Dec
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 pochard
Wetland Discovery: 13 tufted ducks, 65 male 8 female.
Large lagoon between Ramsar hide and Sand Martin hide: 3 snipe, 60 lapwing, 10 shelducks, 2 kingfisher, 1 black-tailed godwit
Reedbed: 1 blackbird, 1 moorhen, 2 firecrest, 2 goldfinches, 1 chiffchaff, 1 kingfisher, 2 long-tailed tits, 25 mallards, 2 blue tits, 1 wood pigeon, 1 coot, 1 dunnock, 1 water rail.
