Kingfishers, Hen Harriers & Goosander
The kingfisher has been stealing the show over the past few days, popping up in all corners of the reserve like a little jewel flashing through the reeds.
On Saturday 29 November, one was spotted at the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides. The very next day, it appeared in the Wetlands Discovery Area. Monday 1 December brought a double treat: one kingfisher sighting at the Ramsar/Sand Martin hide and another at the Arun Riverlife lagoon. By Tuesday, the bird was still busy, showing itself along the Waterside Walk and again at the lagoon. On Wednesday, we enjoyed yet another sighting at the Scrape hide. Thanks to visitor Alec Pelling for the stunning kingfisher photo!
Hen harriers roosting alongside marsh harriers in the reedbed have caused much excitement among staff and visitors alike. Over the past few weeks, two males and two ring-tailed hen harriers have been visiting the site – not necessarily all at once, but the possibility of two pairs being present is thrilling. Although we’ve had the occasional visit from hen harriers over the years, they have never stayed on site for this long before. Hopefully they will over-winter here, and then we’ll see what spring brings.
A redhead goosander has also been showing well over the past month, adding to the diversity of birds on site. In addition, a glossy ibis was seen from the Scrape Hide on 29 November – a species we rarely encounter here and haven’t recorded since 2022.
Great white egrets have been spotted regularly at the Ramsar and Sand Martin hide, adding a touch of elegance to the week’s sightings. On Monday 1 December, two individuals were seen, their tall, graceful figures standing out against the water. They returned the next day, but they weren’t the only egrets about – an astonishing gathering of 60 cattle egrets was counted by staff on site. The pair of great whites were back again on Wednesday 3 December, a welcome and consistent highlight.
Highlights: kingfisher, hen harriers, glossy ibis, goosander, great white egret
Please note: these sightings are not a definitive list of all the species onsite but are primarily based on our Reserve Wardens morning observations that focus on different areas of the site on different days. We sometime add in other sightings by or verified by WWT staff that may be of interest to our visitors.
Wed 3 Dec
Scrape hide: 10 shoveler ducks, 14 mallards, 1 coot, 2 snipe, 2 gadwall, 1 wood pigeon, 1 water rail, 2 cormorants, 2 Canada geese, 15 teal, 1 pochard, 1 kingfisher
Ramsar and Sand Martin hide: 2 great white egrets, 18 lapwing
Tues 2 Dec
Waterside Walk: 1 kingfisher, 1 water rail
Ramsar and Sand Martin hide: 10 lapwing, 7 cormorants, 5 Canada geese, 34 teal, 1 goosander, 13 shoveler ducks, 3 coots, 4 pochards, 19 gadwall, 3 tufted ducks, 1 little grebe, 2 black-headed gulls, 2 wood pigeons, 4 snipe, 1 robin, 60 cattle egrets, 2 great white egrets, 2 wigeon, 1 Egyptian goose
Scrape hide: 2 shelducks, 2 Egyptian geese
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 kingfisher, 1 Egyptian goose
Mon 1 Dec
Lapwing hide: 3 pheasants
Ramsar/Sand Martin hide: 2 great white egrets, 1 pochard, 1 kingfisher
Scrape hide: 1 pochard
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 2 pochards, 1 kingfisher
Sun 30 Nov
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 2 shelducks
Wetlands Discovery Area: 9 mallards, 4 tufted ducks, 4 Canada geese, 1 kingfisher, 1 robin, 4 blue tits, 5 wood pigeons, 1 great tit, 2 shovelers, 1 blackbird, 1 bullfinch, 2 chaffinches, 1 jay, 1 song thrush, 6 goldfinches
Sat 29 Nov
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 38 mallards, 10 black-headed gulls, 2 tufted ducks, 1 coot, 5 Canada geese
Ramsar and Sand Martin hides: 13 lapwings, 1 kingfisher, 2 little grebes, 5 wigeon, 4 pochards, 1 goosander, 2 shelducks, 1 glossy ibis on Fen Cut at 1 pm, 12 siskins
