Arundel News
Water vole family snapped moving home
Water vole mother carries her youngster in her mouth while swimming through the reedbed. Landscape and nature photographer Davis Shawe chanced upon a water vole family moving home in the reedbed at WWT Arundel Wetland
20 May 2013
Migrating nightjar dropped in for the day
This nightjar was returning from Africa when it dropped into our reedbed to rest for the day. Photo by David Barrett. The heavy winds in the Arun Valley brought an unusual visitor to the reserve last Wednesday. A nigh
20 May 2013
Swallows & martins moving through the reserve
HUNDREDS of swallows, house martins and sand martins have been moving through the reserve in the past week, heading for their UK nesting sites. These three types of hirundine flock together during their migration from Africa but there seems to be less
16 May 2013
Sunshine has flowers blooming & wild ducks on nest
WHILE walking to the Lapwing hide I hear a black cap singing near the Ramsar hide. Across from the path in the wet meadow the soft yellow of blooming cowslips draw my eye and I go over for a closer look. The warm weather has brought the meadow to life. La
7 May 2013
See the Birds & the Bees May Bank holiday weekend
Hoverfly Volucella inanis - Richard Bullock WWT Arundel Wetland Centre is holding an Insect Fest on May 4-6 Bank Holiday weekend of crafts, trails and activities that focus on the little things in life – the insects
22 April 2013
Spring begins for butterflies and bees.
It feels as if spring finally started last Sunday. Warmer temperatures and the sunshine arrived on the final day of the Easter holiday break at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. The reedbed was alive with warblers on my Sunday morning rounds. I heard the blast
15 April 2013
Colourful leg ring proves nene gander is a love cheat!
New plastic rings help breeding program at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre This spring rare wildfowl at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre are sporting colourful plastic leg rings that enable staff to identify them from a distance. The bright new leg bands alerted s
14 April 2013
Cold spring slows wildlife
Cold temperatures and low insect levels have made it a tough spring for mallard ducklings. Spring has been slow to arrive this year and it’s having an impact on Sussex wildlife. March in West Sussex was one of the c
12 April 2013
New feed bay opens at WWT Arundel
This spring families can get nose-to-beak with ducks, geese and swans from around the world in the new World Wildfowl feed bay at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. The new enclosure allows families to feed wildfowl, some who will eat directly from your hand! T
12 April 2013
Glossy Ibis and great white egret drop in
SUNDAY had a lovely sunny start with hints of spring in the air. During my morning walk around the reserve I heard chiffchaff singing at various points on the paths and a mistle thrush, robin and chaffinch joining in as well. I spotted another redshank. I
8 April 2013
Two unusual visitors a WWT Arundel
A glossy ibis was seen from the Lapwing Hide on Good Friday. A mute swan chased the heron-like ibis away but it was back in the afternoon and spotted from the Sand Martin hide on mid-morning on Saturday. Ibises are not regular visitors to the UK but occas
1 April 2013
New nene goslings at WWT Arundel
Four nene goslings with parents in the outdoor duckery at WWT Arundel. On March 18 four nene (Hawaiian) goslings hatched at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, the first goslings born on the reserve this spring. The four gr
26 March 2013
Hope for redshank to return
LAST WEDNESDAY I collected tubes from our latest water shrew survey from around the reedbeds and drainage ditches of the reserve. To detect water shrew activity we put out short sections plastic pipe with one end capped and bait them with fly pupae from t
23 March 2013
Ducks need your plant donations
Flooding devastated the plants in the exhibit that is home to Argentine red shovelers, Australian wood ducks and Cape shelducks. WWT Arundel is asking gardeners to donate plants this spring to replace those lost dur
23 March 2013
Novices & pros will enjoy Arundel Birdwatching Weekend
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre and Viewpoint Optics announce the first Arundel Birdwatching Weekend on March 23 & 24. The weekend of infomation and workshops boasts exhibitors like Zeiss Sports Optics, Swarovski, Manfrotto, and Opticron. Sponsored
18 March 2013