Bounty of butterflies
The butterfly survey on 3 July recorded an impressive 111 butterflies in just 90 minutes. Meadow Browns were the most abundant species with 28 seen, alongside 34 Large Whites and 18 Gatekeepers. Other highlights included Common Blue, Small Skipper, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Comma, Red Admiral and Holly Blue.
Bird sightings this week included good numbers of Sand Martins still at the nesting banks , with around 40–50 birds gathering around the Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides. Mandarin Ducks continued to show well across the reserve, with several sightings from the Woodland Loop and wetland hides. The Arun Riverlife Lagoon produced Little Egret, Gadwall, Oystercatcher and Sedge Warbler, while a female or juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting low over the reedbed was a notable sighting from the Scrape Hide on Friday. A Peregrine Falcon making a very low pass over the Reedbed on Wednesday was another exciting record.
Many of our ducks are now becoming less obvious as they enter their annual eclipse moult following the breeding season. During this time, male ducks shed their bright breeding plumage and adopt a much duller, female-like appearance known as eclipse plumage. They also moult their flight feathers and become temporarily unable to fly, so they spend much of their time hidden away in reeds and other waterside vegetation where they are better protected from predators. As a result, some ducks may seem to have disappeared, but they are often simply keeping a low profile while they complete this important stage of their yearly cycle.
Signs of successful breeding are still evident around the reserve, with a Moorhen on a nest along the Woodland Loop and a Great Tit accompanied by two fledglings in the Reedbed. Goldfinches, Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Woodpigeons were all recorded during the week, providing plenty of wildlife interest for visitors enjoying the summer season.
Butterfly Survey – 3 July
111 butterflies recorded in 90 minutes
- 34 Large White
- 28 Meadow Brown
- 18 Gatekeeper
- 7 Small Skipper
- 6 Common Blue
- 4 Red Admiral
- 4 small whites
- 3 Brimstone
- 3 Speckled Wood
- 2 Comma
- 1 Ringlet
- 1 Holly Blue
Sunday 13 July
Wet Grassland
- 2 Goldfinch
- 1 Woodpigeon
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides
- 6 Cormorants
- 1 Mandarin Duck
- 2 Teal
Woodland Loop
- 2 Mandarin Ducks
Arun Riverlife Lagoon
- 1 Little Egret
Saturday 12 July
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide
- c.50 Sand Martins
Wetland Discovery Area
- 1 Robin
- 3 Blue Tits
- 2 Woodpigeons
- 3 Long-tailed Tits
Friday 11 July
Arun Riverlife Lagoon
- 2 Gadwall
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 2 Sedge Warblers
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides
- 4 Teal
- 3 Mandarin Ducks
- c.40 Sand Martins
Scrape Hide
- 1 female or juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting over the reedbed
Thursday 10 July
Woodland Loop
- 5 Moorhens (including one on a nest)
- 3 Mallards
- 3 Blue Tits
- 1 Great Tit
- 3 Goldfinches
- 3 Chaffinches
- 1 Greenfinch
- 1 Coot
- 1 Mandarin Duck
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard)
Wednesday 9 July
Reedbed
- 3 Goldfinches
- 2 Blackbirds
- 2 Moorhens
- 3 Woodpigeons
- 1 Peregrine Falcon (very low pass overhead)
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Great Tit with 2 fledglings
- 9 Mallards
- 1 female Gadwall
- 1 female Tufted Duck
