Nightingale, sand martins and marsh harriers
The combination of active songbirds, regularly seen marsh harriers, and increasing numbers of paired birds and families highlights a reserve fully entering the spring breeding phase.
Songbird activity increased noticeably across the reserve through the week, with a strong presence of spring migrants and resident singers. Chiffchaffs, blackcaps, sedge warblers, reed warblers and whitethroats were reported in the Woodland Loop, near the Reedbed platform and in the Scrape area. Singing male sedge warblers and the appearance of a male nightingale provided seasonal highlights, while Cetti’s warblers continued to feature regularly in multiple locations, often heard calling from dense cover. Finches, wrens, goldfinches, and bullfinches added to the chorus.
Marsh harriers were a consistent feature, with birds observed over the Scrape and reedbeds on several days. In addition to visual sightings, a calling harrier was also reported from within the reedbed itself, suggesting continued territorial or breeding-related activity. These sightings, alongside goosanders, pochard, and occasional fly-throughs such as red kite, added a strong raptor and waterbird presence to the week’s records.
Numerous wildfowl were logged in established pairs, including gadwall, teal, shelduck, pochard and tufted duck. The first Canada goose of the spring and greylag goose broods were also recorded in different areas, with goslings accompanying adults along paths, picnic areas and lagoons. Pair-bonded behaviour was clear across multiple sites, particularly at the Scrape, Sand Martin Hide and Arun Riverlife Lagoon.
Overall, the combination of active songbirds, regularly seen marsh harriers, and increasing numbers of paired birds and families highlights a reserve fully entering the spring breeding phase. With continued arrivals of migrants and growing signs of nesting success, the week offered a rich snapshot of seasonal change across both wetland and woodland habitats.
Saturday 18 April
Arun Riverlife Lagoon
1 mute swan; 14 Canada geese; 3 greylag geese; 1 sedge warbler; 2 coots; 10 tufted ducks (5 pairs); 6 gadwall (2 pairs and 2 males); 8 black-headed gulls; 2 male mallards; 1 Cetti’s warbler; 1 chiffchaff.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides
10 cattle egrets; 3 lapwings; c.120 sand martins.
Long Path
Canada goose pair with goslings.
Scrape Hide
1 lapwing; 2 teal (pair); 2 shelduck (pair); 2 male pochard.
Friday 17 April
Woodland Loop
2 blackbirds; 6 chaffinches; 16 mallards; 2 Cetti’s warblers; 5 goldfinches; 7 blue tits; 3 mandarin ducks; 2 chiffchaffs; 2 wrens; 1 robin; 1 bullfinch.
Wednesday 15 April
Front Pond
4 tufted ducks; 1 gadwall (pair).
Arun Riverlife Lagoon
10 tufted ducks; 5 gadwall; 1 grey wagtail.
Lakes & Forest Exhibit
2 gadwall.
Woodland Loop
1 blackcap; 1 nuthatch; 2 mandarin ducks; 1 great spotted woodpecker.
Willow Sphere
5 tufted ducks.
Reedbed Platform
1 house martin; 2 snipe.
Long Path
1 whitethroat.
Scrape Hide
4 gadwall; 2 teal; 1 lapwing; 6 pochard; 1 goosander; 2 shelduck (pair); 3 male sedge warblers singing; 2 black-headed gulls; 9 Canada geese.
Scrape Hide (additional sightings)
5 greylag geese; 1 Egyptian goose; 4 tufted ducks; 2 Cetti’s warblers; 1 marsh harrier; 1 greenfinch; c.30 sand martins; 4 mallards; 1 chiffchaff; 1 male nightingale; 1 song thrush; 1 blackcap; 1 coot; 1 chaffinch; 1 grey wagtail; 1 reed warbler.
Scrape Approach Pond
2 gadwall.
Sand Martin Hide
2 common terns (seen and heard briefly before flying south); 2 lapwings; 2 oystercatchers; 6 gadwall; 2 shelduck.
Tuesday 14 April
Picnic Area
2 greylag geese with 6 goslings; 2 greylag geese with 10 goslings.
Wildlife Garden
2 greylag geese with 4 goslings.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide
20 Canada geese; 4 greylag geese; 2 Egyptian geese; 1 cormorant; 1 little egret; 3 teal; 6 tufted ducks; 4 mallards; 5 shoveler; 3 shelduck; 5 gadwall; 2 coots; 2 moorhens; 2 mute swans; 4 lapwings; 2 oystercatchers; 60 black-headed gulls; 2 herring gulls; 1 great tit; 1 wren; 1 Cetti’s warbler; 1 sedge warbler; c.100 sand martins.
Scrape Hide
2 shelduck (pair); 2 teal (pair); 1 pochard; 1 Egyptian goose; c.29 sand martins; 1 marsh harrier.
Reedbed
1 marsh harrier heard calling in the reedbed; 2 snipe flushed by staff.
Monday 13 April
Wetland Discovery Area
1 male pochard.
Lapwing Hide
3 sedge warblers; 2 Cetti’s warblers; 3 Canada geese; 5 mallards; 1 chiffchaff; 2 blackcaps; 2 carrion crows; 1 wren; 1 goldfinch; 1 coot; 1 blue tit; 1 pheasant.
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide
4 lapwings; 2 shelduck; 1 teal; 2 oystercatchers.
Waterside Walk
1 pochard.
Scrape Hide
1 marsh harrier; 2 shelduck; 1 Egyptian goose; 2 pairs of pochard; 1 pair of teal; 1 greenfinch; 1 goosander.
Woodland Loop
5 mandarin ducks; 1 red kite over the reserve.
