Migration is beginning to gather pace at WWT Arundel, and this week's standout sighting was undoubtedly the osprey. A lone bird was recorded flying over the reserve from the Ramsar Hide on both Monday 31 August and Tuesday 1 September, providing lucky visitors with a glimpse of one of Britain's most iconic birds of prey. Osprey sightings are always a highlight at Arundel during autumn passage, when these magnificent fish-eating raptors move south on their journey to wintering grounds in Africa.
Kingfishers continue to steal the show around the reserve. Visitors watching the Front Pond on Monday afternoon were treated to the sight of two kingfishers, with one perched low over the water while a second remained hidden among the bushes. Over recent weeks, up to three kingfishers have been seen chasing each other around the pond and calling loudly. These energetic displays are often linked to young birds establishing territories or adults reinforcing pair bonds ahead of winter.
Elsewhere, kingfishers were reported from several locations across the site throughout the week, including Willow Sphere, Arun Riverlife lagoon, Ramsar Hide, Lapwing Hide and on Wetland Discovery during the boat safari.
Last week a great white egret has been a regular presence from both the Scrape and Ramsar areas, while a juvenile marsh harrier and a male marsh harrier have both been recorded hunting over the reserve. Sand martins remain a feature of the site too, with family groups still using nesting holes around Sand Martin Hide, although their numbers are beginning to thin as more birds prepare to head south.
Among the week's other highlights were a water rail showing in the reedbeds, a kestrel from Lapwing Hide, a clouded yellow butterfly along the Tranquil Trail, and impressive gatherings of gadwall across the reserve. With migration continuing and water levels attracting a variety of birds, early autumn is proving to be an exciting time to get out onto the reserve and see what turns up next.
Tuesday 1 September
Willow Sphere: 1 kingfisher
Lapwing Hide: 1 kestrel, 3 woodpigeons, 1 robin, 1 blue tit
Ramsar Hide: 1 osprey flyover (late afternoon)
Monday 31 August
Front Pond: 2 kingfishers
Ramsar Hide and Sand Martin Hide: 26 gadwall ducks, pair of mute swans with 2 juveniles, c.10 sand martins including 2 juveniles in a nesting hole over the speaker, 1 osprey flyover
Lapwing Hide: 2 blue tits, 1 Cetti's warbler, 1 woodpigeon, 1 chiffchaff, 1 willow warbler, 2 kingfishers
Reedbed: 1 water rail
Kingfisher on the front pond August 31 (WWT)
Sunday 30 August
Wetland Discovery Area: 1 Cetti's warbler, 2 moorhens, 4 mallards, 2 robins, 2 woodpigeons, 1 blackbird, 2 blue tits, 1 wren, 1 pochard, 1 water rail
Ramsar Hide and Sand Martin Hide: 1 little egret, 10 sand martins, with 4 juveniles being fed in two separate nesting chambers
Scrape Hide: 1 great white egret
Saturday 29 August
Arun Riverlife: 1 grey heron, 11 mallards, 1 kingfisher, 1 wren, 1 gadwall, 1 moorhen
Ramsar Hide and Sand Martin Hide: 1 great white egret
Scrape Hide: 1 juvenile marsh harrier
Friday 28 August
Woodland Loop: 3 moorhens, 13 mallards, 3 blue tits, 2 great tits, 6 chaffinches, 1 mandarin duck, 12 woodpigeons, 3 goldfinches
Thursday 27 August
Ramsar Hide and Sand Martin Hide: 1 male marsh harrier, 1 kingfisher perched on the cattle-wire fence calling, 1 great white egret, 1 little egret, 8 sand martins
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher perched on the water-depth gauge
Reedbed: 5 gadwall, 1 coot, 3 mallards, 1 moorhen, 2 woodpigeons, 1 wren, 2 long-tailed tits, 2 blue tits, 1 great tit, 1 robin
Wednesday 26 August
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 1 kingfisher
Lakes & Forests: 1 gadwall, 1 grey wagtail
Woodland Loop: 1 mandarin duck
Reedbed: 1 gadwall
Willow Sphere: 1 kingfisher, 2 gadwall
Long Path: 2 blackcaps, 12 grey herons
Scrape: 2 Cetti's warblers, 1 great white egret, 6 woodpigeons, 16 mallards, 2 coots, 2 greenfinches, 10 gadwall, 1 teal, 1 moorhen, 1 shoveler, 1 goldfinch, 1 cormorant, 1 chaffinch
Scrape Hide: 1 robin
Sand Martin Hide: c.10 sand martins, 1 cormorant, 3 tufted ducks, 1 shoveler
Wildlife Garden: 1 song thrush
Ramsar Hide: 4 cormorants, 3 little grebes, 1 kingfisher, c.80 sand martins, 1 swallow
Tranquil Trail: 1 clouded yellow butterfly
