Singing and nesting around the reserve
Sand martins and kingfishers continue to show at the Sand martin hide. A pair of oystercatchers have been frequenting the fresh cobble islands out front (photo).
Between Ramsar and Sand martin hides look out for lapwing and chicks, common gulls, Med gulls, shelducks, shoveler, mute swans and greylag geese and goslings.
In the Wood Loop look out for chaffinches, blue and great tits on the feeders and mandarin and mallard ducks below and in the ditch. Lots of sininging around the reserve from chiffchaffs, Cetti’s warblers, sedge warblers, song thrush and black caps. Look up for soaring buzzards and kestrel perching. Water rails have been seen and heard squealing around the reedbeds.
Sightings from WWT wardens assessing specific areas of the reserve on a rotating basis. See daily sightings highlights posted daily in the Visitor Centre.
Wed 4 May
Ramsar hide: a pair of lapwing
Pond in front of Coastal Creek aviary: 2 oystercatchers nesting.
Scrape hide: 10 Canada geese, 7 greylag geese, 4 pochards, 8 tufted ducks, 1 shelduck, 2 lapwing, 4 male and 3 female mallards, a pair of gadwall, 1 coot, 1 moorhen, 1 sedge warbler, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 male shoveler
Tranquil Trail: a pair of bullfinches
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher
Along perimeter fence: 1 cuckoo in flight
Tues 3 May
Arun Riverlife: 1 oystercatcher, 2 pochard
Pond in front of Coastal Creek aviary: 2 oystercatchers nesting.
Scrape Hide: 3 male pochards, 2 lapwing – male nest scraping
Ramsar hide: 2 shoveler, 7 greylag geese, 13 Canada geese, 13 gadwall 6 male and 7 females, a pair of lapwing mobbing crows and contact calling chicks, 2 moorhens, 5 mallards, 10 tufted ducks (5 pairs), 39 black-headed gulls, 4 coots, 2 cackling geese, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 2 oystercatchers, 1 shelduck, 1 kingfisher, 12 sand martins
Wetland Discovery: 1 nightingale
Mon 2 May
Lapwing hide: 2 lapwing, 8 Canada geese, 12 greylag geese - 4 male 3 females 5 goslings, 1 shoveler, a pair of mallards, 1 male gadwall
Ramsar & Sand martin hides: 2 oystercatchers, 2 lapwing, 1 male and 1 female kingfisher on perch outside Sand martin hide, 2 pied wagtails, 6 sand martins
Scrape hide: 3 male pochards
Wetland Discovery: 1 nightingale
Sun 1 May
Wetland Discovery: 7 Canada geese, 5 male and 4 female tufted ducks, pair of greylag geese and 2 goslings, 5 male and 3 female mallards, 1 Cetti’s warbler
Ramsar & Sand Martin hide: 1 little egret
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher flew into Hole 5 on artificial nesting bank, 3 male pochards
