An impressive 120 cattle egrets were counted leaving the roost from Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide early on 7 October, with a further 52 seen from Scrape Hide.
The photo above was taken with night vision camera of roosting cattle egrets and cormorants in the trees at the Scrape hide on Wednesday evening. You may have a chance to see the egrets coming in to roost on our upcoming Nov 4 & 7 Evening Roost Watches, when we remain open until 5.30 pm.
Great white egrets continue to be seen regularly around the site, delighting visitors with sightings from Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide, Scrape Hide and Waterside Walk throughout the week. Once a rarity in the UK, these elegant white wading birds are now becoming a much more familiar sight, and their regular appearance at the reserve is always a highlight for birdwatchers.
Kingfishers have also been putting on a good show, with sightings reported from Arun Riverlife, Arun Riverlife Lagoon and Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide. Visitors have enjoyed watching little grebes, water rails and a snipe spotted have all been recorded in several locations.
Elsewhere around the reserve, healthy numbers of mallards, gadwall, shovelers and tufted ducks were recorded, with marsh harrier, red kite and great spotted woodpecker provided some exciting sightings. The Woodland Loop remain productive for smaller birds, with Cetti's warblers, chiffchaffs, long-tailed tits, blue tits and robins all reported.
Tues 13 October
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 1 kingfisher on perch in front of nesting bank.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret, 5 cormorants, 15 shovelers, 2 coots, 23 mallards, 2 tufted ducks, 2 Egyptian geese, 5 gadwall, 2 teal, 1 wood pigeon, 2 red kites circling overhead, 1 Cetti's warbler.
Sun 11 October
Wetland Discovery Area: 6 wood pigeons, 1 kingfisher, 2 wrens, 3 great tits, 2 robins, 3 blackbirds, 1 chiffchaff, 3 blue tits, 1 coot, 4 mallards, 2 long-tailed tits, 10 tufted ducks.
Reedbed: 1 water rail.
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher.
Long Path: 1 snipe.
Scrape Hide: 1 little grebe, 1 marsh harrier.
Water Treatment System: 1 water rail.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret, 2 snipe.
Sat 10 October
Wetland Discovery: 2 stonechats.
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 19 mallards, 1 moorhen, 12 tufted ducks, 1 robin.
Waterside Walk: 1 great white egret.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret.
Fri 9 October
Scrape Hide: 1 great white egret, 1 water rail.
Woodland Loop: 2 moorhens, 2 jackdaws, 5 blue tits, 1 wren, 1 robin, 1 great tit, 1 mandarin, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 3 long-tailed tits.
Thurs 8 October
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret, 2 little grebes, 1 kingfisher, 2 little egrets, 2 Egyptian geese, 10 cormorants.
Carpe Hide: 2 teal, 1 little grebe.
Reedbed: 2 Cetti's warblers, 1 robin, 1 wren, 1 wood pigeon, 2 moorhens, 2 chiffchaffs, 1 blue tit.
Reedbed Willow Sphere: 20 mallards, 1 Cetti's warbler, 1 chiffchaff.
Lakes and Forests Exhibit: 3 Egyptian geese.
Wed 7 October
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 120 cattle egrets seen early morning from the overnight roost.
Scrape Hide: 52 cattle egrets seen early morning from the overnight roost, 57 mallards, 22 gadwall, 7 shovelers, 2 teal, 2 mandarin, 13 wood pigeons, 2 coots, 1 magpie, 1 robin.
