Nesting oystercatchers, swan cygnets growing and black-headed gull colony
Oystercatchers have been a lovely, regular sight this week, with birds spotted around the Sand Martin hide—possibly even nesting on the roof—as well as feeding out on the islands.
Over on the Arun Riverlife lagoon, the other pair of oystercatchers has settled on a nest on the island, which is always encouraging to see at this time of year.
Sand martins have once again been one of the real highlights, with fantastic numbers gathering around the lagoon, especially between the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides. Smaller groups have been seen at the Scrape hide and on the Arun Riverlife lagoon, while the main nesting bank has been buzzing with activity, with well over a hundred birds at times. Fledglings can now be seen peeking out from nest holes, and the constant movement of birds feeding and swooping over the water really brings the whole area to life.
Black-headed gulls are also making their presence known, particularly around the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides where their nesting colony is well established again this summer. Around 80 birds have been busy with all the usual breeding activity—building nests, gathering materials and keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. Their energetic mobbing of larger gulls is a sure sign of how important this site is for them during the breeding season.
For a slightly calmer scene, the mute swans along the Waterside Walk have been a real delight. Pairs of adults have been seen gently guiding broods of five cygnets, offering a peaceful and heart-warming glimpse of family life on the water, and a clear sign that breeding has been successful this spring.
Highlights: juvenile great spotted woodpecker, painted lady butterfly, scare chaser dragonfly, reed bunting singing, 2 curlews calling
Saturday 23 May
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 mute swan, 1 oystercatcher, 5 tufted ducks, 1 gadwall, 2 Canada geese, c15 sand martins, 2 coots, 1 sedge warbler
Waterside Walk: 2 pochards
Exhibits: 1 female pochard with duckling
Scrape hide: 1 pochard
Ramsar and Sand Martin hides: 2 little egrets (1 on nest, 1 fishing), 1 cattle egret, 1 lapwing near nest, 1 cackling goose, c80 sand martins
Bewick’s swan exhibit: 1 painted lady butterfly
Friday 22 May
Woodland Loop: 1 marsh tit, 4 blue tits, 3 chaffinches, 9 mallards, 3 moorhens, 1 juvenile mandarin, 2 robins, 1 juvenile great spotted woodpecker
Wednesday 20 May
Wetland Discovery area: 1 scarce chaser dragonfly
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 4 pairs of tufted ducks and 2 males, 1 male mandarin duck, 1 oystercatcher
Pelican Cove: 2 pelicans
Lakes & Forests exhibit: 1 pelican, 2 tufted ducks
Waterfalls exhibit: 1 willow warbler in scrub opposite
Woodland Loop: 1 great spotted woodpecker, 4 mandarin ducks
Reedbed: 2 tufted ducks
Scrape hide: 2 reed warblers, 1 wren
Sand Martin hide: c100 sand martins
Bewick’s swan exhibit: 1 gadwall
Waterside Walk: 4 tufted ducks, 2 gadwall, 2 mute swans with 5 cygnets
Ramsar hide: 1 shoveler, 1 cormorant, 3 little egrets, 16 gadwall, 1 tufted duck, 1 reed bunting, 3 lapwing
Lapwing hide: 1 shoveler
Tuesday 19 May
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 oystercatcher on nest on the island
Ramsar and Sand Martin hides: 2 little egrets in nesting tree, 1 reed warbler singing, 1 reed bunting singing, 1 Cetti’s warbler singing, 27 gadwall, 11 tufted ducks, 3 pochards, 6 mallards, 2 shoveler ducks, 1 greylag goose, 1 moorhen, 2 coots, c100 sand martins with fledglings, c80 black-headed gulls nesting, 2 lapwings (1 on nest opposite Ramsar hide, 1 at back of wet grassland), 3 oystercatchers on island near Ramsar hide
Waterside Walk: 2 mute swans with 5 cygnets
Scrape hide: 15 sand martins, 3 pochards, 2 curlews heard
