Latest sightings

Scrape hide getting busier

This week we have noticed sightings picking up at the Scrape hide with little grebes, heron, tufted ducks and shovelers appearing regularly. The Scrape hide gets busier in autumn so the seaons may be starting to shift. A moth survey this morning recorded

10 August 2021

Kingfisher sightings & moulting ducks

For the past week the kingfishers have been showing well down near the Lapwing hide and that end of the boat safari. This kingfisher photo was sent by visitor Susie Gander.

3 August 2021

Sand martins in residence

Plenty of sand martins still active at the Sand martin hide, in and out of the holes on the left near the speaker box and on the right bank below the swallow nest cups. The kingfisher pair are still taking food into hole 5 on the Arun Riverlife lagoon n

21 July 2021

Mostly meadow browns on butterfly survey

The butterfly survey on Thurs 8 July recorded seven species of butterfly onsite. The 90 minute survey recorded 27 butterflies including 15 meadow browns. Surveyor John also counted four red admirals, four ringlets and one each of large white, small copp

12 July 2021

Toadlets emerge and survey results

This warm, damp weather signalled to tiny toadlets to emerge from their birth ponds. We have had to rescue a few toadlets that found their way into the visitor centre on their search for a damp, shady to settle in. Toads take about two years to mature,

3 July 2021

New ducklings, dragons and butterflies

The oystercatcher pair with their one chick have left the island outside Coastal Creek aviary for the shelter of the trees in the Lakes & Forest exhibit. The other oystercatcher pair are still on the island at the Sand Martin hide but we can’t see chi

23 June 2021

June bat, dragonfly & moth surveys

An emporer dragonfly emerges to dry out in the photo above by Head Keeper Sam HalpinWildlife Surveys Dragonfly survey June 11 Damselflies: Azure damselflies, blue-tailed damselfly, large red damselflies, common blue damselflies, Dragonflies: broad-bodie

17 June 2021

Male warblers singing & tufties hatching

Last week’s summery temperature have brought out the warblers. Cetti’s warblers, blackcap, reed warblers and reed bunting were all heard singing onsite. The heat brought the dragonfly and damselflies larvae out of the ponds to emerge as adults. The oy

6 June 2021

Kingfishers are feeding young

Last Saturday we caught this pic of the kingfisher pair both outside their nesting hole in the Kingfisher bank on Arun Riverlife lagoon. If the kingfisher is holding a fish in its mouth with the head facing forward it's about to feed young,

26 May 2021

Bounty of cygnets

The mute swans sitting on their huge nest in the entrance reedbed welcomed their cygnets into the world last weekend. Visitors have been admiring the pair from the nearby entry boardwalk before coming into the visitors centre and ave been wondering about

20 May 2021

Sand martins favour nest holes near the wildlife camera

On Tuesday Reserve Manager Suzi Lanaway spotted the male kingfisher taking a fish into hole 5 on the Arun Riverlife lagoon kingfisher nesting bank. The fact that the kingfisher was holding the fish’s tail inside his mouth with the head poking forward le

12 May 2021

Oystercatcher nests near new Coastal Creek aviary

There’s lots of amazing water birds to see inside the new Coastal Creek aviary but one wader species is attracting attention on the little pond just outside. The indomitable oystercatcher pair are back this year, nesting on the island opposite the ne

10 May 2021

Cuckoo calling in the reedbed

On Tuesday our Wardens heard a cuckoo calling from the back of reedbed along the Mill stream. Our boat drivers saw a cuckoo on the Wetland Discovery area at the end of the day. The cold and dry weather is impacting some wildlife onsite, especially lapwing

5 May 2021

Warblers singing & kingfishers still on nest

The kingfisher pair are still nesting in the bank on Arundel Riverlife lagoon. Last Friday our wardens spotted the female kingfisher on the perch to the left side of the nesting bank for a few moments before the male kingfisher emerged from hole #5 and jo

29 April 2021

Sand martins have returned

On Monday 5 April six sand martins were checking out the holes in the Sand martin hide nesting banks. House martins and a sprinkling of swallows have also started moving through the reserve. A pair of oystercatchers have nested on top of the hide and anot

8 April 2021