Kingfishers continue to be one of the highlights around the reserve, with sightings recorded almost daily. Visitors were treated to views of kingfishers at Arun Riverlife on three separate days, while additional sightings came from the pond before Scrape Hide and Scrape Hide itself. Their regular appearance suggests that these colourful birds are finding plenty of suitable hunting opportunities around the wetlands in autumn.
The reserve's quieter waters are also supporting little grebes, with sightings from both Pelican Cove and Scrape Hide. Often heard before they are seen, little grebes spend much of their time diving beneath the surface in search of aquatic insects, small fish and other prey. Their presence is always a good indicator of productive wetland habitats.
A variety of smaller birds are also making the most of the changing season. Blackcaps have been particularly noticeable (male black cap above photographed by Mike Jerome). Other small bird sightings included a firecrest in the Woodland Loop, grey wagtail at Arun Riverlife, whitethroat along the Long Path, reed warbler and Cetti's warbler at Scrape Hide, as well as good numbers of blue tits, chaffinches, greenfinches, robins and great tits across the reserve. Overhead, flocks of house martins and a few lingering sand martins provided further evidence that autumn migration is well underway, making this an excellent time to keep an eye out for both resident and visiting birds.
Mon 14 September
Willow Sphere Pond: 1 water vole
Arun Riverlife: 25 mallards, 2 tufted ducks, 1 kingfisher
Pelican Cove and Coastal Creek Water: 4 mallards, 6 coots, 1 moorhen, 3 tufted ducks, 2 Canada geese
Lakes & Forest Exhibit: 44 mallards, 10 coots, 14 moorhens, 1 mute swan, 1 shoveler, 4 black-headed gulls
Reedswamp Exhibit: 35 mallards, 1 coot, 4 moorhens, 2 mute swans, 1 Canada goose
Woodland Pond: 27 mallards, 4 moorhens
Reedbed: 31 mallards, 3 coots, 8 moorhens, 2 gadwall, 1 water rail
Scrape Hide: 17 mallards, 2 coots, 1 moorhen, 5 teal, 10 gadwall, 4 shovelers, 3 black-headed gulls, 1 little grebe
Scrape Hide Approach Pond: 4 mallards, 1 coot, 1 moorhen
Sand Martin Hide: 1 coot, 3 gadwall
Bewick’s Swan: 18 mallards, 2 coots, 1 moorhen
Waterside Walk: 135 mallards, 1 coot, 3 mute swans, 1 tufted duck
Ramsar Hide: 1 gadwall, 1 cormorant
Sun 13 September
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher
Wetland Discovery Area: 3 mallards, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 2 blue tits, 1 robin, 1 greenfinch, 2 tufted ducks
Pond Before Scrape Hide: 1 kingfisher
Sat 12 September
Scrape Hide: 1 kingfisher
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 2 robins, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 wood pigeon, 1 great tit
Tranquil Trail: 2 blackcaps, 1 sedge warbler, 1 common lizard
Fri 11 September
Woodland Loop: 2 moorhens, 4 mallards, 1 robin, 1 blackbird, 1 wood pigeon, 2 blue tits, 1 blackcap, 1 firecrest, 2 chaffinches
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 2 Egyptian geese
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher
Pelican Cove: 1 little grebe
Thurs 10 September
Scrape Hide: 1 little grebe, 1 blackcap, 1 coot, 2 wood pigeons, 1 chaffinch, 1 great tit, 2 blue tits
Willow Sphere: 14 mallards, 2 gadwall, 2 coots
Wed 9 September
Arun Riverlife: 1 grey wagtail
Pelican Cove: 3 tufted ducks
Woodland Loop: 1 mandarin duck
Reedbed: 1 water rail
Long Path: 1 whitethroat
Willow Sphere: 4 gadwall
Scrape Hide: 2 black-headed gulls, 2 grey herons, 4 blackcaps, 1 greenfinch, 4 wood pigeons, 18 mallards, 1 moorhen, 1 little grebe, 2 gadwall, 1 reed warbler, 1 great tit, 1 teal, 1 marsh harrier, 1 Cetti’s warbler
Wildlife Garden Ditch: 1 water rail
Sand Martin Hide: 3 sand martins
Waterside Walk: 4 mute swans
Ramsar Hide: 1 shoveler, 1 grey heron, c.20 house martins, 1 linnet
