Goosander, stonechats and barn owls
The Arun lagoon project will be completed in the coming weeks and the Reserve team are cutting the Wet Grassland at the same time, with the aim of completing all works at that end of the reserve together. Coordinating these works should allow wintering wildfowl and waders to enjoy this area free from disturbance. Stonechats have been regular visitors to any available reed stem in the area, perusing the grassland for juicy worms!
The team have worked hard on the entrance pond to push back the encroachment of reed and sedge, and increase the area of open water – much to the delight of a young Grey Heron appearing there.
Marsh harriers continue to roost in the reedbed in good numbers, with the last survey showing eight individuals coming in to roost. Kingfishers are still showing well throughout the reserve.
Redwings can be seen flitting about the hedgerows, taking advantage of any remaining berries. The young male Kestrel is enjoying all the cut areas, making it easy for him to hunt mice. The Barn Owl has gone back to using the Lapwing Hide- we are seeing fresh pellets every morning.
At 3.45 pm on Wednesday we had a female goosander land on Arun Riverlife!
Recent sightings
Wed 8 Dec
Scrape hide: 5 greylag geese, 2 Canada goose, 2 shelduck, 8 shoveler, 21 mallard, 1 grey heron, 2 pintails, 1 little grebe.
Arun Riverlife: female goosander.
Tues 7 Dec
Ramsar hide: 25 black-headed gulls, 2 moorhens
Sand martin hide: 4 mallards, 1 shelducks, 3 teal
Scrape hide: 3 shoveler, 1 little grebe, 1 shelduck, 1 teal
Willow screen: 2 mandarin, 1 teal
Arun Riverlife: 1 black swan
Mon 6 Dec
Lapwing hide: 1 grey heron
Sussex screen: a pair of teal, 1 kingfisher, 57 mallard (36 male, 21 female), 1 mandarin duck
Scrape hide: 1 snipe, 3 Canada geese, a pair of shelduck, 3 shovelers, 1 gadwall, 54 greylag geese, 1 water rail.
Arun Riverlife: great white egret, 2 little grebes, 1 black swan, a pair of mute swans
Long path: 1 green woodpecker
Woodloop: 1 water rail, 3 goldfinches
Wetland Discovery: 1 water rail
Tranquil trail: a pair of bullfinches, 2 goldfinches, 1 little egret
Wet grassland: 3 stonechats, 24 snipe (pm)
Reedbed: 1 marsh harrier
Woodloop: sparrowhawk (pm)
Sun 5 Dec
Arun Riverlife: 2 pochards, 6 shelducks
Scrape hide: 2 shoveler, 2 shelducks, 1 pin tail
Sand Martin hide: 2 teal, 2 shelduck
Wetland Discovery: 23 mallard, 1 moorhen, 3 coots, 1 wood pigeon, 2 chaffinches, 8 blackbird, 4 redwing, 1 bullfinch, 2 tufted ducks, 2 goldfinch, 1 black-headed girl, 1 peregrine.
