Winter visitors continue to arrive. A pair of Pintail have been regular visitors, while Wigeon numbers have reached double figures on some days. Among the more familiar ducks, these elegant species always stand out, especially as many are now in their finest winter plumage.
Cattle Egret numbers have also been impressive, with up to 170 birds coming in to roost. Visit the Scrape Hide in the afternoon to watch them gathering in the tree at the centre of the scrape. Kingfishers have also been showing particularly well across the site, providing memorable sightings for visitors of all ages.
We stayed open an extra hour on Wednesday 4 November and Saturday 7 November for our Evening Roost Watch events. On Wednesday, visitors enjoyed sightings of at least 10 Marsh Harriers, two ring-tailed Hen Harriers, the impressive Cattle Egret roost, and a Barn Owl, making for a fantastic evening of wildlife watching. We had a kestrel around as well. Kestrel photo above thanks to Mike Jerome taken in late October.
During what was our final moth trap of the year in late October, we recorded two species that I have hoped to see again for years: two Merveille du Jour and a Clifden Nonpareil. While both species have been recorded on site in the past, it has been many years since I've encountered either of them here, making their appearance a real thrill.
Tuesday 10 November
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 19 mallards, 1 great white egret, 10 cormorants, 1 grey heron, 5 shoveler ducks, 8 gadwall, 1 wigeon, 1 linnet, 2 Egyptian geese, 2 shelducks, 1 moorhen, 2 coots, 11 Canada geese, 1 dunnock, 1 wood pigeon, 2 robins, 1 kingfisher, 1 water rail.
Ramsar Hide Approach: 1 bullfinch.
Scrape Hide: 1 great white egret, 2 shelducks, 1 kingfisher.
Monday 9 November
Lapwing Hide: 1 carrion crow, 1 pheasant, 1 wood pigeon.
Tranquil Trail: 1 male bullfinch.
Old Trumpeter Pen: 1 great white egret.
Sunday 8 November
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 4 lapwing, 1 little grebe, 1 shelduck, 2 Egyptian geese, 1 kingfisher.
Scrape Hide: 1 wigeon.
Reedbed Viewing Platform: 1 little egret.
Wetland Discovery Area: 1 moorhen, 4 blue tits, 10 goldfinches, 2 blackbirds, 10 tufted ducks, 1 chaffinch, 1 water rail, 1 wren, 1 carrion crow, 11 wood pigeons, 4 mallards, 1 great tit, 1 pheasant, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 robin.
Saturday 7 November
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 10 mallards, 26 tufted ducks, 1 black-headed gull, 1 kingfisher, 1 wren, 1 dunnock, 1 robin, 1 pied wagtail.
Waterside Walk Area: 1 mallard, 1 female kestrel.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 82 common gulls, 4 lapwing, 1 kingfisher, 1 little egret, 2 Canada geese, 1 wigeon.
Lapwing Hide: 1 coot with a Darvic ring.
Friday 6 November
Woodland Loop: 1 blackbird, 12 blue tits, 2 robins, 2 great tits, 2 goldfinches, 6 chaffinches, 3 long-tailed tits, 1 greenfinch, 1 jackdaw, 1 moorhen, 2 wrens, 4 wood pigeons.
Thursday 5 November
Scrape Hide: 2 grey herons, 1 little egret, 1 cattle egret, 2 wigeon.
Arun Riverlife: 1 little egret, 1 great white egret.
Wetland Discovery: 1 kingfisher.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 1 little egret, 92 Canada geese, 1 great white egret, 37 lapwing, 2 cackling geese, 16 snipe, 1 shelduck.
Reedbed Viewing Platform: 2 red kites circling low over the reedbed, 2 great white egrets, 1 kingfisher.
Reedbed: 2 teal, 15 mallards, 1 coot, 2 robins, 2 blue tits, 1 chiffchaff, 1 jay (flyover), 3 long-tailed tits.
