Brimstones emerge in springlike temperatures
A firecrest hunts insect Photo: Romney Turner
Early signs of spring are all around Arundel Wetland Centre. Brimstone butterflies began appearing last week. The sulphur yellow males emerge first from their winter hibernation, waiting for females who emerge when buckthorn began to bud where they will lay eggs on leaf shoots. Some peacock and red admiral butterflies are about as well but the brimstones are out in force especially on these warmer days. With temperatures in the teens some small whites and holly blues have been seen in Sussex. Both these species hatch out from a chrysalis in spring so they are early.These sightings are a snapshot or wildlife around the reserve each morning noted by our wardens.
Mon 25 Feb
Wetlands Discovery: 1 pochard, 5 tufted ducks.
Ramsar hide: 6 wigeon, 1 lapwing, 3 snipe, 4 pochard.
Lapwing hide: 5 lapwing, 6 tel.
Scrape hide: 7 pochard,26 teal, 10 snipe.
Reedbed: 1 water rail, 1 snipe, 1 chiffchaff, 2 reed bunting.
Sun 24 Feb
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 6 tufted ducks, 1 lapwing, 2 teal, 3 shelduck
Lapwing hide: 5 lapwings, 12 teal, 3 gadwall, 3 shoveler, 2 shelduck.
Scrape hide: tufted ducks 9, 2 shelducks, 3 shoveler, 1 little grebe, 1 lapwing.
Tundra exhibit pen: 1 kingfisher, 1 shelduck.
Fri 22 Feb
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 5 tufted ducks, 1 lapwing, 8 teal, 1 snipe.
Wetlands Discovery: 8 tufted ducks, 2 pochard
Tundra exhibit: 1 little egeret
Lapwing hide: 6 lapwing, 3 shoveler, 2 gadwall, 7 teal, 2 shelduck.
Ramsar/Sand Martin hide: 6 snipe. 1 pochard, 2 lapwing, 9 shelduck, 5 shoveler, 5 cormorant, 5 teal, 57 common gull, 1 lesser black-backed gull.
Scrape hide: 3 tufted duck, 8 teal, 2 pochard, 7 shoveler, 1 lapwing, 2 gadwall.
Thurs 21 Feb
Arun riverlife lagoon: 1 water rail, 9 pochard, 14 tufted ducks, 1 teal, 1 lapwing.
Woodland Lodge hide: 2 mandarin ducks, 2 song thrush, 1 nuthatch, 1 great spotted woodpecker.
Reedbed hide: 1 little egret.
Scrape hide: water rail, 3 tufted ducks, 14 teal, 1 pocharrd, 2 gadwall, 2 lapwing, 5 snipe, 1 little grebe.
Sand martin hide: 11 pochard, 3 shelducks, 4 tufted ducks, 2 lapwing, 1 cormorant.
Ramsar hide: 10 shelducks, 3 cormorants, 2 lapwing, 29 snipe, 2 tufted ducks, 1 shoveler.
Wetlands Discovery: 1 pochard, 2 tufted ducks.
Lapwing: 8 lapwing, 9 teal, 6 gadwall, 2 shelducks.
Tranquil trail: 3 chiffchaffs
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