Toad migration and lapwing displays
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre Reserve manager Paul Stevens and Wildfowl & Wetlands staff have been staying late to rescue toads crossing the road, moving them onto the safety of the wetland reserve. Mill Road in front of the wetland centre is an active toad crossing point, listed with the Department of Transport on the registry of amphibian crossing points.
On Thurs 28 Feb the team rescued over 100 toads, 2 frogs and 2 palmate newts all attempting to cross Mill Road. The team collected more toads and newts over the weekend and are patrolling the fence line to find any toads who are trying to climb the perimeter fence to make their way into our wetland reserve.
Morning sightings by wardens on the reserve:
Mon 4 March
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 4 pochard, 2 tufted ducks, 2 lapwing, 5 teal.
Wetlands Discovery (Boat Safari): 19 tufted ducks, 4 pochard.
Lapwing hide: 7 lapwings, 2 shelducks, 5 shoveler, 5 teal.
Ramsar hide: 27 snipe, 2 lapwing, 3 cormorants, 7 tufted ducks, 7 shelducks, 8 wigeon, 2 oystercatchers, 2 Mediterranean gulls 1 lesser-black backed gulls., 1 pochard
Scrape hide: 2 lapwing, 1 teal, 3 gadwall.
Sun 3 March
Sand martin hide: 2 brown long-eared bats, 1 peacock butterfly, 1 herald moth.
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 18 tufted ducks, 12 pochards, 2 lapwing, 13 snipe, 7 teal.
Ramsar hide: 3 lapwing, 7 pochards, 3 cattle egrets and 4 snipe.
Wetlands Secrets Plant house: 2 soprano pipistrelles roosting in woodcrete bat box.
Lapwing hide: 5 lapwings, 2 shoveler, 8 teal.
Scrape hide: 2 lapwing, 3 shoveler.
Sat 2 March
Lapwing hide: 10 lapwing, 2 shelducks, 1 snipe, 4 teal, 3 shoveler ducks.
Ramsar/Sand martin hide: 9 cormorants, 8 tufted ducks, 1 pochard, 2 gadwall ducks,4 shelducks, 3 lapwing, 5 snipe, 1 lesser black-backed gul, 1000 common gull, 6 Mediterranean gulss, 1 teal.
Scrape hide: 2 shelducks, 1 pochard, 13 gadwall ducks, 2 shoveler ducks, 2 lapwing,
General: 2 common toads by Pondskater Play area.
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 3 tufted ducks, 4 pochards, 1 lapwing
Wetlands Discovery (Boat Safari): 8 tufted ducks, 2 pochard (pair).
Fri 1 March
Lapwing hide: 6 shoveler, 8 teal, 7 lapwing.
Sand martin hide: 2 tufted ducks, 9 shelducks, 2 lapwing, 2 gadwall, 1 cormorant
Ramsar hide: 3 cormorants, 2 lapwing, 4 wigeon, 4 teal, 6 snipe
Wildlife garden: gold crests
Scrape hide: 1 pochard, 7 teal, 3 gadwall, 1 tufted duck, 3 shevelers, 2 shelducks.
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 9 pochard, 1 tufted duck, 2 lapwing.
Woodland loop: 2 mandarin ducks, 2 wrens, 1 song thrush 1 nuthatch
General: 2 water rail, grey wagtails.
Thurs 28 Feb:
Sand martin hide: 2 oystercatchers, 1 gadwall, 10 shelducks, 5 Mediterranean gulls.Ramsar hide: 4 cormorants, 1 tufed ducks, 2 pochards, 2 gadwall ducks, 5 snipe, 2 lapwing, 6 wigeon.
Scrape hide: 2 lawpwings, 6 shovelers, 6 teal, 3 gadwall, 2 tufted ducks,
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 7 pochards, 2 oystercatchers, 2 shoveler, 1 lapwing, 2 teal
