Plenty of pochards, displaying lapwing and mallard ducklings
This week delivered an impressive mix of waterfowl, waders and woodland species across the reserve, with pochards remaining the most consistently recorded bird. They appeared daily in multiple areas—from Pelican Cove and the Scrape Hide to the Wetland Discovery Area—highlighting a strong late‑winter presence. Other ducks, including tufted ducks, teal, gadwall and shovelers, were also well‑represented, while greylag and Canada geese featured prominently throughout the week, often appearing in substantial numbers. Mallards were widespread too, including a charming sighting of a pair with seven ducklings mid‑week.
Waders and herons added a great deal of interest, with lapwings active across several days, frequently displaying and calling. Snipe were regularly encountered, especially early in the week when counts peaked at over twenty individuals. Cattle egrets were another standout species, with an impressive 45 recorded on Monday and smaller groups noted on subsequent days. Great white egrets appeared multiple times as well, contributing to a strong showing of larger wetland birds. Goosanders, oystercatchers, and little grebe provided further variety among the water‑associated species.
Smaller birds and woodland songbirds were well represented, particularly along the Woodland Loop and the Wetland Discovery Area. Great spotted woodpeckers were seen on multiple days, joined by nuthatch, treecreeper, goldfinches, chaffinches, tits, wrens, robins and blackbirds. Cetti’s warblers were especially vocal, occurring throughout the week in several locations, while chiffchaffs also made regular appearances—offering a clear hint of early spring migration.
Finally, the arrival of sand martins brought a welcome sign of the changing season. Several were seen around the Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide on multiple days, occasionally in small groups. Kingfishers made two bright, fleeting appearances during the week as well. Overall, it was a rich and varied seven days, with excellent species diversity across all habitats and a definite sense of spring beginning to take hold.
Sun 22 March
Pelican Cove: 3 pochards
Wetland Discovery Area: 11 mallards, 8 Canada geese, 1 coot, 2 goldfinches, 1 robin, 1 chiffchaff, 1 green woodpecker, 1 wren, 2 woodpigeons, 1 song thrush, 1 bullfinch, 1 pied wagtail, 4 tufted ducks, 1 pochard, 2 Cetti’s warblers, 1 dunnock
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 4 lapwings
Pond by Scrape Hide: 1 goosander
Scrape Hide: 1 Egyptian goose, 2 pochards
Sat 21 March
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 11 Canada geese, 7 greylag geese, 4 black‑headed gulls, 5 gadwall, 2 pochards, 5 tufted ducks, 2 mallards, 1 grey wagtail
Pelican Cove: 1 pochard
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 3 snipe, 6 lapwings, 1 cattle egret, 60 common gulls, 1 pochard, 2 cackling geese, 2 Egyptian geese
Waterside Walk: 2 pochards
Scrape Hide: 1 Egyptian goose, 1 little grebe, 1 lapwing
Sand Martin Hide: 1 sand martin
Fri 20 March
Scrape Hide: 2 pochards, 2 teal
Reedbed: 2 Cetti’s warblers
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 1 Cetti’s warbler
Woodland Loop: 1 great spotted woodpecker, 5 mandarin ducks, 2 moorhens, 6 chaffinches, 3 great tits, 10 blue tits, 3 dunnocks, 2 wrens, 3 blackbirds, 2 robins, 1 chiffchaff, 3 woodpigeons, 1 goldfinch
Lakes & Forest Exhibit: 1 pochard
Redswamp Exhibit: 1 pochard
Wetland Discovery Area: 1 great spotted woodpecker, 5 pochards
Lapwing Hide: 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 chiffchaff
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 8 lapwings displaying and calling, 1 great white egret, 4 cackling × barnacle cross, 5 teal, 3 snipe, 2 shelducks, 2 pochards, 1 Egyptian goose, 4 sand martins
Pond on Scrape Hide Approach: 2 pochards
Thurs 19 March
Arun Riverlife: 1 great white egret, 1 pochard
Wetland Discovery Area: 5 pochards
Waterside Walk: 1 pochard, 3 goldfinches, 1 dunnock, 2 reed buntings, 1 treecreeper
Woodland Loop: 2 great spotted woodpeckers, mandarin ducks, 3 goldfinches, 1 nuthatch
Lakes and Forest Exhibit: 1 pochard
Reedswamp Exhibit: 1 pochard
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hides: 7 lapwings displaying and calling, 1 great egret, 11 shovelers, 12 snipe, 5 teal, 2 Egyptian geese, 1 shelduck, 2 Mediterranean gulls
Pond at Scrape Hide Approach: 1 pochard, 1 long‑tailed tit
Scrape Hide: 2 teal
Reedbed: 3 Cetti’s warblers, 4 blue tits, 5 mallards, 4 Canada geese, 1 pochard, 11 black‑headed gulls, 4 moorhens, 1 coot, 3 chiffchaffs, 2 woodpigeons, 1 goldfinch, 1 dunnock
Wednesday 18 March
Waterside Walk: mallard pair with 7 ducklings
Wetland Discovery Hide: 2 pochards
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 6 lapwings, 4 cattle egrets, 2 great white egrets, 1 pochard, 2 oystercatchers, 4 sand martins, 1 goosander, 2 pochards
Scrape Hide: 10 greylag geese, 12 Canada geese, 4 tufted ducks, 9 pochards, 6 mallards, 7 teal, 3 black‑headed gulls, 2 gadwall, 2 shovelers, 1 herring gull
Tuesday 17 March
Waterside Walk: 2 oystercatchers
Wetland Discovery Area: 1 kingfisher, 8 pochards
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 13 greylag geese, 32 Canada geese, 18 cattle egrets, 5 cormorants, 8 lapwings displaying and calling, 12 snipe, 15 mallards, 10 teal, 3 tufted ducks, 12 shoveler ducks, 1 gadwall, 2 shelducks, 1 goosander, 2 coots, 3 moorhens, 3 woodpigeons, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 54 black‑headed gulls, 94 common gulls
Scrape Hide: 3 pochards
Lakes and Forests Exhibit: 3 pochards
Mon 16 March
Waterside Walk: 2 pochards, 1 goosander
Lapwing Hide: 4 tufted ducks, 2 shovelers, 1 gadwall, 3 Canada geese, 1 woodpigeon, 2 reed buntings, 6 greylag geese, 2 cackling × barnacle geese, 1 pheasant, 1 coot, 1 mallard
Scrape Hide: 2 pochards
Ramsar and Sand Martin Hide: 45 cattle egrets, 7 lapwings, 23 snipe, 1 wigeon, 2 Mediterranean gulls
Reedbed Viewing Platform: 1 pochard
Reedswamp Exhibit: 2 pochards
Arun Riverlife: 1 kingfisher
