Goslings, ducklings and chicks hatching out
We had our first clutch of greylag goslings wandering the reserve this week. We've seen a few mallard families about and some newly hatched moorehen chicks were spotted in the Long Ditch.
Regular visitor Romney Turner photographed this fly-over of the Oystercatchers between Arun Riverlife lagoon and Ramsar hide.
Recent morning sightings from around the reserve.
Mon 8 April
Arun Riverlife: 4 pochard, 1 shelduck, 1 lapwing, 1 gadwall, 4 tufted ducks, 2 Egyptian geese.
Wetlands Discovery: 1 cormorant, 6 tufted ducks.
Lapwing hide: 1 grey heron, 4 shelduck, 5 lapwing, 8 adwall, 3 shoveller, 8 teal, 1 snipe, , 2 Cetti’s warblers.
Ramsar hide/Sand Martin hide: 3 gadwall, 3 cormorant, 1 lapwing, 2 oystercatchers, 2 teal, 4 shelducks, 7 Med. Gulls, 28 common gulls, 2 shoveler, 1 Cetti’s warbler.
Scrape Hide: 1 pochard, 2 shelducks, 2 lapwing.
Sun 7 April
Arun Riverlife: 1 lapwing, 1 Pochard, 1 tufted ducks, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 shelduck.
Woodlan Loop: manadarin duck.
Willow screen: 2 gadwall.
Scrape hide: 4 shoveler, 2 lapwing.
Ramsar hide/Sand Martin hide: 6 tufted ducks, 2 shelducks, 19 common gull, 1 mandarin duck, 1 lapwing, 1 teal, 2 cormorant.
Wetlands Discovery: 7 tufted ducks, snakes head fritillary flowering.
Lapwing hide: 6 lapwing, greylag goose with 6 goslings, 5 shoveler, 2 teal, 1 grey heron.
Long path: orange tip butterfly.
Reedbed: sedge warbler.
Sat 6 April
Sand Martin hide/Ramsar hide: 2 cormorants, 2 Egyptian geese, 12 common gulls, 1 snipe, 1 shoveler, 5 tufted ducks, 7 shelducks, 1 lesser black-backed gull, 1 teal, 4 oystercatcher, 2 Mediterranean gulls.
Lapwing hide: 6 shoveler, 5 teal, 2 lapwing
Scrape hide: 2 tufted ducks, 2 shoveler ducks, 1 Cetti’s warblers
Arun Riverlife: 4 tufted ducks, 5 pochards.
Woodland Loop: mandarin ducks.
Reedbed: mandarin ducks, 1 Cetti’s warbler.
Wetland Discovery: 14 Tufted Ducks, 1 pochard.
Tundra Pen: 2 oystercatcher, 1 mandarin ducks, 2 gadwall.
