One of the standout wildlife spectacles at WWT Arundel this summer continues to be the sand martins on the large lagoon at the Sand Martin Hide. Counts have ranged from around 40 birds to as many as 100, reflecting the late summer movement now underway. Many of these birds will be locally bred youngsters from second broods that have recently fledged, joined by migrants moving south from further north. If you would like to see sand martins wheeling over the wetlands before they depart for Africa, now is the time to visit. Numbers are likely to begin dwindling towards the end of August as the autumn migration gathers pace.
Kingfishers have also been particularly noticeable across the reserve this week, with sightings from the Arun Riverlife Lagoon, Reedbed Boardwalk and Wetland Discovery area. Although kingfishers did not successfully nest on site this year, their increased presence shows that the reserve remains an important feeding and resting area. As water levels and fish availability continue to suit them, visitors stand a good chance of seeing these dazzling birds throughout the autumn and winter. Thanks Mike Jerome for his lovely kingfisher pic sent in previously we have used on this sightings page.
Elsewhere, the wetlands continue to host a good selection of herons and egrets, including regular sightings of great white egrets and cattle egrets, while Cetti's warblers, water rails and reed warblers have all been recorded around the reedbeds. These late summer weeks offer a wonderful mix of resident wildlife and early autumn migrants, making every visit an opportunity to spot something special.
Tues 18 Aug
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 1 female mute swan and 2 cygnets, 1 great white egret, 8 cattle egrets (2 juveniles), 18 mallards, 10 gadwall, 1 coot, 1 moorhen, c.60 sand martins, 1 Cetti's warbler, 1 cormorant.
Reedbed Boardwalk: 1 kingfisher.
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 2 kingfishers.
Sun 16 Aug
Wetland Discovery: 1 wood pigeon, 3 robins, 1 wren, 4 mute swans, 1 water rail, 2 blue tits.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 1 great white egret, 2 juvenile cattle egrets, c.100 sand martins.
Sat 15 Aug
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 1 kingfisher, 1 mallard.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret.
Fri 14 Aug
Woodland Loop: 2 moorhens, 1 mandarin duck, 5 blue tits, 8 great tits, 1 long-tailed tit, 2 nuthatches, 4 chaffinches, 2 jackdaws, 10 mallards, 1 wren.
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 1 kingfisher.
Pelican Cove: 1 little grebe.
Thurs 13 Aug
Wetland Discovery: 1 kingfisher.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret, 3 cattle egrets and 2 juveniles, c.40 sand martins.
Scrape Hide: 62 greylag geese.
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 1 little grebe.
Reedbed: 3 robins, 3 wood pigeons, 2 blue tits, 3 mallards, 1 treecreeper, 5 goldfinches, 2 moorhens, 1 great tit, 1 Cetti's warbler, 1 water rail, 1 reed warbler.
Wed 12 Aug
Pelican Cove: 1 gadwall.
Lakes & Forest Exhibit: 1 gadwall.
Woodland Loop: 2 mandarin ducks.
Reedbed: 1 water rail.
Crossroads: 1 firecrest.
Long Path: 1 linnet, 1 whitethroat.
Scrape Hide: 2 sand martins, 1 shoveler, 1 coot, 1 blue tit, 10 wood pigeons, 16 greylag geese, 1 moorhen, 4 gadwall, 8 mallards, 4 teal.
Sand Martin Hide: c.40 sand martins, 1 teal, 4 gadwall, 1 shoveler.
Ramsar Hide: 6 cormorants, 20 gadwall, 1 cattle egret and 2 juveniles, 1 juvenile grey heron, 1 little egret, 1 green sandpiper.
