Goslings, ducklings and chicks
There are plenty of opportunities for “cute” wildlife photos across WWT Arundel's site now that spring is underway. There are at least 5 greylag geese pairs with goslings in tow and similar number of Canada geese pairs. The geese frequent the picnic area near the jetty, grazing on the grass. The adult geese will let you know if you are too close with a hiss.
Opposite our play area is a spot we call Robin’s gate. The bird feeders hung here are attracting lots of tits and finches while on the ground the mallard ducks with youngsters in tow, geese with goslings and pheasants (plus the odd rat) dine on seed that falls to the ground.
Moorhens with chicks are on our front entry pond, on several ditches and are often spotted on the “long path” past the Willow Sphere near our tool shed.
Tues 30 May
Ramsar and Sand martin hides: 10 Canada geese, 3 greylag geese, 27 black-headed gulls, 24 tufted ducks. 2 gadwall, 7 mallards, 6 shovelers, 2 moorhens, 1 coots, 1 cormorant, 1 carrion crow, 30 sand martins, 4 lapwing, 1 chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 2 Egyptian geese, 1 oystercatcher, 1 cackling goose, 1 sedge warbler, 1 male pochard
Wildlife garden: 1 great spotted woodpecker.
Scrape hide: 1 pochard, 1 nightingale, 1 cuckoo heard at the back of the reserve.
Arun Riverlife lagoon: black-headed gulls nesting on island, 2 oystercatchers
Reedbed boardwalk: 3 large red damselflies.
Mon 29 April
Robin’s gate: 1 mallard with 6 ducklings, 2 pair of Canada geese with 9 goslings
Wet grassland: 14 greylag geese, 1 reed warbler, 2 chiff chaffs, 1 wren, 1 sedge warbler, 1 grey heron, 1 blackbird, 5 Canada geese with 3 goslings, pair of tufted ducks, 1 cackling goose, 3 sand martins, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 coot, 1 great tit, 1 moorhen
Ramsar hide: 2 oystercatcher, 4 lapwings, 1 grey heron, 10+ black-headed gulls on 4 nests, 1 pochard,2 Canada geese with 5 goslings, 2 lesser black-backed gulls
Scrape hide: 1 pochard
Reedbed: 2 pairs greylag geese plus goslings
Woodland loop: 1 moorhen on nest
Pelican Cove: 2 oystercatchers
Arun Riverlife: 3 black headed gulls on nests, heard 1 cuckoo.
Sun 28 April
Wetland Discovery area: 4 Canada geese, 5 mallards, 1 coot, 2 sedge warblers, 1 reed warbler, 1 dunnock
Waterside walk: 2 oystercatchers
Ramsar hide: 5 lapwings, Pelican Cove: 1 pochard
Scrape hide: 1 lapwing, 1 shelduck, 3 male pochard and 1 female, 1 nightingale
Sat 27 April
Arun Riverlife: 5 tufted ducks, 13 Canada geese, 4 mallards, 14 black-headed gulls, 2 greylag geese, 2 coots, 1 moorhen
Pelican Cove: greylag geese with goslings
Reedswamp exhibit: 1 oystercatcher
Woodland Loop: 1 moorhen, 2 black caps, 1 wren, 2 robins, 1 willow warbler,1 coat tit
Meadow maze: greylag geese and goslings
Reedbed: 1 reed warbler, 1 sedge warbler, 2 shelducks
Scrape hide: Canada geese with goslings (on the approach), 2 shelducks, 2 pochards, 1 nightingale
Wetland Discovery: 1 bullfinch
Ramsar hide: 1 sedge warbler, 5 shoveler, 1 pochard, 1 cackling goose, 3 teal (two pairs), 3 lapwing, 1 oystercatcher, 1 cormorant.
Wet grassland: 1 cackling goose, 1 grey heron
