Latest sightings

First brown hair streak butterfly recorded

First brown hair streak butterfly recorded

Brown hair streak butterfly - the first record of one at Arundel Wetland Centre by Paul Stevens Last week I did another moth survey – we had 513 moths in the traps of 95 different species. 100 of the moths were moth

13 August 2018

Warblers and more heading south early

Warblers and more heading south early

  Sedge warblers are heading southwards. Our bat survey last week highlighted what a great feeding area the Arun Riverlife lagoon is. With a low count of bats and species over most of the site, Arun Riverlife was

7 August 2018

Owl chicks & toadlets

Owl chicks & toadlets

Two barn owl chicks from WWT Arundel nest box found by licensed handler Stuart Card. Stuart Card, Countryside Warden for Horsham County Council to Arundel Wetland Centre was onsite last Thursday evening to check our o

30 July 2018

Butterflies out in force this week

Butterflies out in force this week

Common Blue in the Butterfly Garden near the lapwing hide. Nature Notes with Reserve Manager Paul Stevens Summer hatching butterflies are out on force – we are seeing lots of peacocks, red admirals and brimstones on

16 July 2018

First emerald damselfly recorded onsite

First emerald damselfly recorded onsite

Emerald damselfly on Wetlands Discovery by Paul Stevens Nature Notes by Paul Stevens, Reserve Manager Bat survey last week – we didn’t get many bats. The hot weather is great for insects so the bats are well fed a

9 July 2018

More club tailed dragonflies & a bounty of butterflies

More club tailed dragonflies & a bounty of butterflies

Great crested grebe on Arun Riverlife lagoon. Pic Andy Burns. Nature Notes by Paul Stevens, Arundel Wetland Centre Reserve Manager Boat driver Alex spotted another club-tailed dragonfly, this one a bright green male.

2 July 2018

Reedbed hide reopens, partial closing of Scrape hide for nesting swallows

Reedbed hide reopens, partial closing of Scrape hide for nesting swallows

Four beaks visible in the swallow nest in the Scrape hide. Thanks for your understanding as we had to close off that section of the hide. Nature Notes by Reserve Manager Paul Stevens Staff members saw barn owl at 7 pm

25 June 2018

Toadlets emerge & club-tailed dragonfly spotted

Toadlets emerge & club-tailed dragonfly spotted

Toadlets emerged from the ponds to leave the reserve in the damp of Thursday morning Sightings week of June 11-17 Monday 11 June Sand Martin hide: Male pintail ducks, tufted duck and gadwall. Tues 12 June Arun Riverli

18 June 2018

Major haul on Moth Morning

Major haul on Moth Morning

Casing from a newly emerged southern hawker dragonfly found at the raised pond. Nature notes with Reserve Manager Paul Stevens: Raised Pond has burgundy flowers of spiked water milfoil breaking the water’s surface.

12 June 2018

Oystercatchers nesting again

Oystercatchers nesting again

Oystercatchers are nesting in the Tundra exhibit and are trying again at the Sand Martin hide Nature notes with Reserve Manager Paul Stevens: A pair of oystercatchers at Sand Martin hide, on the gravel island to the l

4 June 2018

Kingfisher sightings increase

Kingfisher sightings increase

Black-headed gull chicks have hatched out on the gravel island of Arun Riverlife lagoon. Kingfisher sightings are on the increase again, partuicularly at the Scrape hide and on Wetlands Discovery boat safari. Pochard

21 May 2018

Lapwing chicks hatch out

Lapwing chicks hatch out

One of the three lapwing chicks recently hatched out opposite the Ramsar hide. Nature notes with Reserve Manager Paul Stevens: Sunny weather with a bit of rain has spurred on the spring wild flowers. Yellow flag iris

14 May 2018

Oystercatchers nest on Arun Riverlife

Oystercatchers nest on Arun Riverlife

An oystercatcher pair are nesting on the gravel island directly opposite the viewing windows of the Water's Edge Cafe. Wildlife notes: A lone sand martin spent a few hours Sunday morning checking out the nesting holes

7 May 2018

Bat survey proves Nathusius'pipistrelles onsite

Bat survey proves Nathusius'pipistrelles onsite

A soprano pipistrelle and a Nathusius'pipistrelle from Thursday's harp trap. Photo: Paul Stevens Martyn Cook from Sussex Bat Group putting up the Harp Trap last Thursday evening.

30 April 2018

Bounty of butterflies, flowers & songbirds

Bounty of butterflies, flowers & songbirds

Female brimstone butterfly just laid a small green egg on buckthorn, their food plant.  Photo: Paul Stevens A week of warmer weather has brought out more butterflies, bees and blooms around the wetlands. Breeding Bir

23 April 2018