Kingfshers continue to be one of the standout species around the reserve.
Multiple sightings were recorded across several locations, including Ramsar Hide, Sand Martin Hide, Scrape Hide, Arun Riverlife Lagoon and Lapwing Hide. With fish remaining active in the waterways and visibility improving as waterside vegetation begins to die back, autumn is often an excellent season for spotting these dazzling blue-and-orange birds.
The Scrape Hide recorded an impressive 45 gadwall on 28 September, following a count of 43 earlier in the week. Often overlooked because of their subtle plumage, gadwall are elegant ducks and an increasingly familiar sight at WWT Arundel during the colder months. Alongside the gadwall were good numbers of shovelers, teal, mallards and the season's first returning wigeon.
Birds of prey provided some exciting sightings during the week. A kestrel was seen from both Lapwing Hide and Scrape Hide, while a buzzard was spotted soaring over the hangar at Pelican Cove. These skilled hunters can often be seen taking advantage of the open wetland habitats, scanning for small mammals and other prey.
Elsewhere, large wetland birds continue to attract attention, with great white egrets recorded throughout the week and cattle egrets seen from Lapwing Hide, Ramsar Hide and Sand Martin Hide. Little grebes were also reported regularly, while water rails continue to make appearances around the reedbeds.
Weekly Sightings List
This is not a list of all species on the site on any date, rather differ areas of the site are surveyed on different mornings. Wednesday sightings are the most comprehensive of the week, covering most areas onsite:
WLS 28 September
Lapwing Hide: 1 robin, 3 long-tailed tits, 1 Cetti's warbler, 1 pheasant, 2 blue tits, 1 wren
Ramsar Hide and Sand Martin Hide: 8 teal, 2 kingfishers, 1 little grebe
Scrape Hide: 1 great white egret, 2 little grebes, 45 gadwall, 11 shoveler ducks
Sun 27 September
Wetland Discovery Area: 1 mute swan, 1 Cetti's warbler, 5 goldfinches, 2 wood pigeons, 2 jackdaws, 2 robins, 3 mallards, 2 blue tits, 1 great tit, 1 Eurasian jay, 1 chiffchaff
Ramsar Hide: 1 snipe
Lapwing Hide: 1 kestrel
Scrape Hide: 1 wigeon, 2 little grebes, 1 great white egret
Sat 26 September
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 1 kingfisher, 7 mallards, 2 coots, 13 tufted ducks
Ramsar Hide and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret, 3 cattle egrets
Fri 25 September
Woodland Loop: 2 moorhens, 2 robins, 15 mallards, 2 blackbirds, 3 blue tits, 2 great tits, 5 long-tailed tits, 3 chaffinches
Thurs 24 September
Ramsar Hide and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret, 1 little grebe, 1 little egret
Lapwing Hide: 1 cattle egret, 1 willow warbler
Reedbed Willow Sphere: 2 coots, 4 mallards
Reedbed: 3 wood pigeons, 2 blue tits, 4 chiffchaffs, 2 mallards, 1 water rail, 1 robin, 1 pied wagtail
Wed 23 September
Arun Riverlife: 2 tufted ducks
Pelican Cove: 1 buzzard gliding over the hangar, 5 tufted ducks
Reedbed: 1 water rail
Reedbed Willow Sphere: 1 little grebe
Scrape Hide: 43 gadwall, 24 mallards, 15 shovelers, 2 teal, 7 wood pigeons, 1 Cetti's warbler, 2 water rails, 1 kingfisher, 1 goldfinch, 1 kestrel, 1 grey heron, 1 black-headed gull, 1 moorhen, 1 coot, 1 little grebe
Sand Martin Hide: 1 shoveler, 4 gadwall, 1 teal, 2 kingfishers
Waterside Walk: 1 adult and 2 juvenile mute swans
Ramsar Hide: 1 great white egret, 1 little egret, 5 cormorants, 1 kingfisher
Lapwing Hide: 3 jays, 1 kingfisher
