Kingfisher sightings increase
Kingfisher sightings are on the increase again, partuicularly at the Scrape hide and on Wetlands Discovery boat safari.
Pochard ducklings hatched Sunday and have been seen from the Scarpe hide.
The oystercatcher nesting on the gravel island on Arun Riverlife appears to have come off her nest as of Monday morning. Several clutches of the back headed gulls chicks have hatched out on the island and can be easily seen from the café windows.
Sparrows are checking out the hides for nesting spots (and trying to avoid the sparrowhawk that has taken a few). Take care if you see swallows nesting inside the hides. Please don't bother them with your cameras until the youngsters have fledged and left the nest.
Sightings
From the morning walk arounds by WWT wardens. Commonly seen species like mallards, greylag geese, mure swans, crows, jackdaws, ravens, Canada geese, coots, moorhens, black-headed gulls, pigeons, doves, herring gulls are not included on this list.
Sun 20 May
Arun Rivelife: Oystercatcher, Lapwing
Ramsar Hide: Tufted Duck 10, Shoveler 4, Oystercatcher 1, Gadwall 2
Lapwing Hide: Lapwing 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Tufted duck 2, Common whitethroat 1, Reed warbler 1.
Scrape Hide: Swift 1, House martins 6, Sand Martin 1, Kingfisher 1, Reed bunting 1.
Sat 19 May
Arun River life: Gadwall 2, Tufted duck 7, Oystercatcher 1.
Scrap Hide: Swallows, Tufted duck 6, Sparrow hawk 1, Pochard 2, Gadwall 5.
Ramsar hide: Tufted duck 5, Shelduck 4, Oystercatcher 1, Gadwall 3, Lapwing 1.
Reedbed: Water vole 1, Grey heron 1, Swallows.
Fri 18 May
Arun Riverlife: Oystercatcher 1 - sitting, Lapwing 1 - displaying, Tufted ducks 7, Shoveler 2.
Wetlands Discovery: Tufted duck 6, Pochard 1, Gadwall 1.
Ramsar hide: Lapwing 4 (2 adults 2 chicks), Tufted duck 18, Shoveler 4, Gadwall 2, Shelduck 2,
Scrape Hide: Swallows, Tufted ducks 7.
Reedbed hide: Swallows, Cuckoo heard at back of reedbed
Wed 16 May
Sand Martin Hide: Common Sandpiper
Front pond: Bullfinch male, Willow warbler singing.
Reedbed boardwalk: Cuckoo in trees by reed chamber
Ramsar: Lapwing 3 (1 adult & 2 chicks)
Wetland Discovery: House Martins 20, Kingfisher 1
