Kingfishers have been putting on a great show this week, with sightings reported almost every day.
Up to three birds were seen around the Front Pond chasing each on Saturday, while others were spotted in the Wetland Discovery area in the week. If you've been hoping to catch a glimpse of one of our most colourful residents, now is a great time to visit.
The reserve's great white egret has also been delighting visitors, with sightings reported from the Scrape, Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides throughout the week. This striking large wader has been joined by cormorants and a grey heron onsite. The cattle egrets are still showing well, including three birds, with two juveniles, seen on Sunday.
Meanwhile, sand martins numbers are dropping as the begin heading south for the winter. Counts reached a high of 80 birds this week, with birds regularly seen from the Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides. Their numbers will decrease over the coming weeks as migration gets underway, so don't miss the chance to see these agile little birds swooping across the wetlands before they leave us until next spring. Above photo taken by Mike Jerome.
There has been plenty else to enjoy too, including a marsh harrier hunting over the reserve, a red kite passing overhead, and a good variety of ducks including teal, gadwall, shoveler and mandarin duck.
Mon 24 August
Wetland Discovery: 1 kingfisher
Ramsar Hide: 4 cattle egrets, c30 sand martins
Lapwing Hide: 2 cattle egrets, 1 wood pigeon, 1 robin, 1 great tit
Scrape Hide: 1 great white egret
Sun 23 August
Front Pond: 2 kingfishers
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 1 great white egret, 5 cattle egrets including 2 juveniles, c50 sand martins
Wetland Discovery: 5 wood pigeons, 3 sedge warblers, 4 robins, 2 chiffchaffs, 1 mallard, 2 pochards, 2 Cetti's warblers, 1 carrion crow, 3 blue tits, 1 reed warbler, 1 great tit, 1 green woodpecker
Sat 22 August
Front Pond: 3 kingfishers
Arun Riverlife: 12 Canada geese, 4 mallards
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 1 great white egret, 60 greylag geese, c80 sand martins, 3 teal
Fri 21 August
Woodland Loop: 13 mallards, 1 coot, 4 moorhens, 1 mandarin duck, 2 robins, 3 goldfinches, 2 great tits, 2 chaffinches
Thurs 20 August
Wetland Discovery Area: 1 kingfisher
Lapwing Hide: 1 marsh harrier
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 1 cormorant, 1 great white egret
Scrape Hide: 1 grey heron, 1 great white egret, 1 marsh harrier, 2 shoveler ducks
Reedbed: 3 wrens, 3 linnets, 1 gadwall, 4 mallards, 1 moorhen, 1 chiffchaff
Site: 1 red kite flyover
Wed 19 August
Lakes & Forest Exhibit: 1 grey wagtail
Woodland Loop: 1 mandarin duck
Willow Sphere: 2 gadwall
Scrape Hide: 1 coot, 4 wood pigeons, 2 teal, 38 mallards, 3 gadwall, 1 moorhen, 1 Cetti's warbler, 1 shoveler
Pond Approach to Scrape Hide: 1 gadwall
Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret, c24 sand martins, 1 cormorant, 2 gadwall, 2 blackcaps, 1 stock dove
Bewick's Swan Enclosure: 1 tufted duck
Ramsar Hide: 2 cattle egrets, 1 shoveler duck
