Latest sightings
Chichester Observer column appearing June 14
Wildlife Sightings walk on 05/06/2012 by Paul Stevens The heavens opened at 1 o'clock today and a persistent, heavy rain began to fall. Some hardy visitors and families in colourful Macs [...]
14 June 2012
Lesser is more!
Top sighting of the week was a Lesser spotted woodpecker flying over to the willows on wetlands discovery. It is at least two years ago that this species was seen on the site. Little grebes have n [...]
27 May 2012
Tawny owlets
Three tawny owlets were spotted today high up in a willow tree at the southern edge of the reedbed. This is the second year running that owlets have been seen in this area. The second pair of oyst [...]
13 May 2012
Wildlife Sightings Column May 1 2012
Wildlife Sightings column from walk on May 1 2012 by Paul Stevens Appeared in Lifestyle section of the Chichester Observer newspaper, Thursday 10 May. Water Vole population has wintered well [...]
10 May 2012
Arundel Sand martins
Fantastic views of swallows, sand martins and house martins as they feed over the swan lake this morning. They have been flying within inches of the main gallery window, desperate to find any insects [...]
6 May 2012
Wildlife Sightings column from Chichester Observer newspaper
Walk taken April 17 2012 by Paul Stevens A cold rain is falling and it is very windy - perfect weather for the swallows and martins to hawk for insects over Swan Lake. The low cloud and rain pushe [...]
26 April 2012
Lapwing chicks!
This morning there were four Lapwing chicks out from the Lapwing hide and the first of the eight pairs to hatch their young. Four Linnets feeding out from the Ramsar hide on the dry grassland was [...]
15 April 2012
LRP on wet grassland
Highlight of the day was a fantastic Little ringed Plover on the newly created wet grassland. It didn't stay for long but could this now be a regular sighting for the reserve? At least five Sa [...]
13 April 2012
Wet grassland magic
The pair of Redshank we had a week ago have returned and much more vocal this time! Will they stay and breed? Surprise bird of the morning was a male Linnet feeding out from the Ramsar hide on the [...]
4 April 2012
A trickle of migrants
Last weeks warm weather seems to have caused a trickle of early migrants. Sand Martin and Swallows have passed through and Chiffchaff have been singing in most areas of the reserve. Friday there w [...]
1 April 2012
Wildlife sightings
A really good mix of birds on the reserve at the moment. Highlights were 9 Shoveler and 9 Snipe from the Ramsar and Sand martin hides. Little grebes and water voles are busy on wetlands discov [...]
7 March 2012
Wet grassland birds
The newly developed wet grassland is beginning to come alive with several pairs of Lapwing, around 10 teal, several Shelduck, Gadwall, Canada and Greylag geese, along with the usual Moorh [...]
4 March 2012
Spring is in the air!
Fantastic views of displaying, fighting and nest scraping Lapwing from the lapwing and ramsar hides. A pair of Long tailed tits nest building along the tranquil trail. [...]
28 February 2012
Roosting swans and Lapwing
Quieter this morning as it is now warming after the cold spell. No sign of last weeks Bittern, but the cold has brought in 32 Bewicks swans most nights and a peak of 225 Lapwing. It seems [...]
14 February 2012
Freezing!
The series of cold days and nights have certainly effected the resident and visiting wildlife. Singing territorial birds have gone silent, shy retiring birds such as Bullfinch and Water r [...]
3 February 2012