News
Bees, bugs and lunar hornet moths
Plenty of small birds around this week with reed warbler, sedge warblers, chiffchaff, black cap and greenfinches. A great spotted woodpecker is still around in the Wood land Loop. We had a whitethroat singing a the back of the wet grassland on Saturday.
3 July 2024
Welcome Fowler, the Big Hoot owl
Swooping into WWT Arundel Wetland Centre on July 10 is “Fowler” a large owl, decorated with wetland birds by Ben Cavanaugh, a mural artist and illustrator based in Littlehampton. Fowlers is part of The Big Hoot public art trail of 30 large owls, all
30 June 2024
Peregrine young on Offham hangar
On Tuesday we recorded on our daily sightings that our regular pair of peregrine, who nest each year on the Offham Hangar, were seen with two youngsters overflying the reserve and perching up. Sharp-eyed visitor Mike Jerome spotted the youngsters with an
27 June 2024
Bat trapping and grass snakes
Despite the changeable weather, we have seen an abundance of Grass Snakes with one of our refugia found with up to six snakes at a time taking advantage of it’s warmth. Common Lizards have also been spotted basking along rails on the Long Path fence. We
19 June 2024
Fledglings!
The first brood of kingfishers are fledging – last Sunday Reserve Manager Suzi Lanaway saw one youngster with the tell-tale white tip on its bill out of the nest on perch 3 calling for food from its parents. Since then the male has been seen clearing ne
5 June 2024
Clubtail dragonfly appears back at Arundel
A club-tailed dragonfly was rescued from the water by Wetland Boat Safari guide Joel Coram at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre on Sun 2 June. This species is classified as ‘nationally notable’ as it only breeds on five UK rivers, Arun, Thames, Wey, Dee and
3 June 2024
Wardens wild walks
As summer begins breeding season is still underway for many wild birds, but finishing for others. Here is a look at what our wardens are seeing on their walk arounds each day. Fledging Sand Martins The sand martins began returning in early April and a
30 May 2024
Oystercatcher and gull chicks
Look out on the islands from the sand martin hide and on Arun Riverlife – black-headed gull chicks began hatching out this week. A pair of oystercatchers opposite the Ramsar hide have been spotted with at least two chicks. A second pair of mute swans we
29 May 2024
Nesting oystercatchers and active kings
One oystercatcher pair looks to be sitting on a nest on an island from the Sand martin hide. The pair or one seem to be mobbing any curious predatory crows. On the Arun Riverlife lagoon the kingfishers are still really active this week – were still wai
21 May 2024
Tawny owlet and sand piper
A tawny owlet started branching on Mon 13 May from its box on an island in Wetlands Discovery. Tawny owls leave the nest to scramble around branches before they can fly. This is the first time that tawny owls have used one of our nest boxes at this end of
15 May 2024
Warden wildlife surveys
Our Reserve Wardens monitor the wetlands for wildlife all year around. For us to manage the wetland wildlife population effectively, we need to know what birds, insects and animals occur onsite, how many there are of each species; where they are found an
14 May 2024
Curlew onsite
A curlew wearing coloured leg rings was spotted by WWT wardens from the Ramsar hide on Wed 8 May in the afternoon. It had been spotted by visitors from the Sand martin hide as well. Some of the nesting black-headed gulls swooped it a few times, in case it
9 May 2024
New Incubation & Rearing room to open soon
Arundel Wetland Centre is home to a collection of ducks and geese that tell the story of wetlands around the world. Caring for these birds has our keepers busy year 'round but especially in springtime when nesting begins. The eggs of endangered and thr
8 May 2024
Gull watching guide
What is a seagull? Gulls are familiar to us, almost too familiar - so that many dismiss all gulls as “seagulls” not realizing the huge variety of species and sizes of gulls. Gulls are commonly seen on wetlands, and in urban areas, especially along our
4 May 2024
Super 6 for families this May
There is so much wonderful wildlife to see and activities to try during a family visit to Arundel Wetland Centre in May! With families of goslings, ducklings and chicks dotted about flowers in bloom and butterflies on the wing, there's lots to see, hear a
1 May 2024