Teal & lapwing back on Arun lagoon as project finishes
The Arun Lagoon Project is almost complete. Water has been allowed to slowly flow back into the lagoon since Fri 4 Feb and already birds are moving in. Good numbers of Lapwing have returned (110), eight Mediterranean Gulls are also present amongst other gull species and the first Oystercatcher appeared on Arun Riverlife on Monday morning, Feb 8.
The warmer weather has the wildlife convinced that spring is here already! Everywhere you look a couple of birds are jostling for territory or partners, carrying nest material, or generally being a little over amorous for this time of year! A kingfisher was spotted in the trees of the entry reedbed last Friday where Warden Emma Jacobs got this photo (above). There has also been sightings along the long path and perched up near the nesting bank on Arun Riverlife.
The highlight of bird sightings over the past month has been a Glossy Ibis that was visible from the Scrape Hide for well over a week and is still making the odd appearance. There have been six of them at Pagham Harbour, which of course is very close as the bird flies. Teal and Shoveler numbers are good and with everyone now in their best plumage, displays from males are attracting more attention from females.
Wed 10 Feb
Wood Loop feeders: 6 blue tits, 4 chaffinches, 3 greenfinches, 2 goldfinches, 3 moorhens, 1 great tit, 1 firecrest (mid-morning in trees by stag beetle pile)
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher on perch at nesting bank
Ramsar hide: 20 teal, 3 tufted ducks
Scrape hide: 2 grey herons, 8 little egrets
Tues 9 Feb
Scrape hide: 4 gadwall, 8 teal, 23 shoveler, 5 Canada geese, 3 coots, 6 mallards, 9 snipe, 1 shelduck
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher also on long path
Wetland Discovery: a pair of pochards
Ramsar & Sand Martin hide: 5 lapwing
Mon 8 Feb
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 oystercatcher
Pond opposite waterfall exhibit: 1 tree creeper, 1 water rail, 1 green woodpecker
Ramsar & Sand martin hide: 6 mallards, 12 Canada geese, 2 shelducks, 44 teal, 110 lapwing, 2 greylag geese, 186 black-headed gulls, 2 moorhens, 42 common gull, 8 Mediterranean gulls
Sun 7 Feb
Lapwing hide: 6 Canada geese, 2 pairs of mallards, 2 pairs of pheasants, 1 moorhen
Pelican Cove: 3 male and 5 female pochard
Sat 6 Feb
Wetland Discovery area: 4 male and 2 female mallards, 3 coots, 2 Canada geese, 2 male and 1 female tufted duck, 30 mixed flock of siskin and goldfinches
Sand martin hide: 15 lapwing on shingle island, 44 male and 32 female teal
Pelican cove: 2 pairs of pochard
Arun Riverlife: 2 male pochards
Fri 5 Feb
Arun Riverlife: 55 black-headed gulls, 1 grey heron, 6 coots, 11 male and 5 female mallards, 3 male and 2 female tufted ducks, 1 shelduck, 25 Canada geese,
Pelican cove: 1 female pochard
