Common tern and egrets
A common tern was seen onsite on the afternoon of Thurs 3 July, fishing from a perch on the Arun Riverlife lagoon. The tern moved over to the Sand martin hide later and was seen by staff on the island opposite the hide.A tern was seen a few days previously as well near the Sand martin hide. Sorry we didn't manage a high res image - but our Collection Manager Sam manged to snap this quick snap on Arun Riverlife.
The cattle egrets are still hanging around in the trees where they nested last year in the late summer, and on the tree where they tend to roost. A great white egret has been around this week aswell. Cormorant numbers seem quite strong so it seems everyone is fishing the deep pond between Ramsar and Sand Martin hides.
Mon 7 July
Ramsar and sand martin hides: 5 cattle egrets, 1 pochard
Scrape hide: 1 great white egret
Crossroads: moorhen with 3 youncg chicks
Long path: moorhen pair with 1 chick
Sun 6 July
Wetland Discovery area: 1 coot, 2 woodpigeons, 1 goldfinch, 3 mallards, 1 reed warbler, 1 blackbird, 1 song thrush
Scrape hide: 1 great white egret, 1 pochard, d1 marsh harrier
Ramsar and Sand Martin hide: 5 cormorants, 4 cattle egrets, c50 sand martins
Sat 5 July
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 5 tufted ducks, 3 gadwall, 11 Canada geese, 1 sedge warbler, 3 mallards, 1 moorhen, 1 mute swan
Fri 4 July
Woodland Loop: 2 great tirt, 6 tufted duck, 2 mallard, 2 moorhen, 2 blackbirds
Thurs 3 July
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 little grebe
Ramsar and Sand martin hides: 10 cattle egrets in breeding and roosting trees, 5 cormorant, 2 little egrets, 1 teal, c60 sand martins
Woodland Loop: 1 great spotted-woodpecker
Scrape hide: 2 grey herons, 1 great white egrets, c 5 sand martins
Reedebed Willow sphere: 1 moorhen, 42 mallards, 1 reed warbler, 2 blue tits, 2 chiff chaffs, 2 great tits, 7 greylag, 3 black-headed gulls
Lakes & Forests exhibit: 2 kingfishers
Arun Riverlife and Sand Martin hide: common tern fishing and perching in afternoon.
Wed 2 July
Arun Riverlife: 9 tufted ducks
Lakes & Forest exhibit: 2 mandarin ducks
Meadow pond: 2 gadwall ducks
Woodland Loop: 1 great spotted woodpecker, 1 mandarin duck, 1 blackcap
Reedbed Willow Sphere: 2 tufted ducks
Scrape hide: 1 chiffchaff, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 sedge warbler, 28 mallards, 1 black bird, 1 shoveler, 5 gadwall, 5 wood pigeon, 1 pochard, 3 mandarin ducks, 1 reed warbler, 6 tufted ducks, 1 blue tit, 1 sand martin, 1 grey heron, 2 black-headed gulls, 1 Canada goose
Sand martin hide: 5 tufted ducks, 6 gadwall, 1 mandarin duck, 1 pochard duck, c40 sand martins
Ramsar hide: 1 reed bunting, 12 cattle egrets, 6 cormorants, 6 gadwall, 1 great white egret, 1 marsh harrier
Wetland Discovery area: 1 tufted duck
Lapwing hide: 6 cattle egrets flying in from the river.
