Raptors and New Viewing Platform

An increase in birds of prey this week. Reserve Volunteer Andrew saw a peregrine, a buzzard, a kestrel and a sparrowhawk on Wednesday’s count.

Our new Reedbed Viewing platform opened this week – Andrew spotted a couple of sand martins from this vantage point yesterday. First firecrest spot this season as well, in the Woodland Loop.
Please note that our Sand Martin hide is closed until at least Sat 27 Sept. We are having work done to repair the render on the outside. We have put a notice up online to this effect so please check our website before you arrive if you are planning to visit the Sand Martin hide.
Our Dragonfly Festival has come to an end but we are still seeing plenty of dragonflies. In the afternoons when its warmer and the sun is out there are many migrant hawkers and southern hawkers on the entry reedbed. Also lots of common darters grabbing some sunshine sitting on the fence rails. Alos enjoying the afternoon sun on Monday were loads of red admiral butterflies.
We had c150 house martins moving through on their way south on Monday.

Regular visitor Mike Jerome got this shot of the osprey that was seen onsite last Thurs 18 Sept and Fri 19 Sept.

This list of sightings is based on staff observations from our wildlife hides and are not a comprehensive list of what wildlife is on site. On Wednesdays a count is done across the entire site by one Reserve Team member.

Wed 24 Sept

Car park: 1 blackcap, 1 red kite
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 peregrine, 1 grey heron
Pelican cove: 7 tufted ducks, 1 grey wagtail
Woodland loop: 1 firecrest
Reedbed: 2 water rails
Reedbed viewing platform: 2 sand martins
Scrape hide: 15 shovelers, 1 snipe, 25 mallards, 2 Cetti’s warblers, 4 teal, 1 sand martin, 1 wood pigeon, 1 chiffchaff, 1 robin, 1 little grebe
Sand martin hide: 1 great white egret, 5 wigeon, 8 chiffchaffs
Ramsar hide: 1 kestrel, 3 teal, 1 little egret, 1 gadwall, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 cormorant
Wetland Discovery: 3 tufted ducks
Offham hangar: 1 buzzard.

Tues 23 Sept

Ramsar and Sand martin hide: 4 moorhens, 1 grey heron 5 coots, 4 cattle egret, 8 wood pigeons, 3 Canada geese, 2 cormorants, 23 mallards, 4 shovelers, 4 tufted ducks.
Scrape hide: 19 shovelers, 1 wigeon, 4 teal, 1 shelduck.

Mon 22 Sept

Ramsar & Sand martin hides: 1 great white egret, 4 cackling X barnacle geese, 1 shelduck, 1 cattle egret
Scrape hide: 1 snipe, 1 little grebe, 1 shelduck, 1 great white egret
Lapwing hide: 1 robin, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 blackcap, 1 snipe, 1 grey heron.
Wetland Discovery: 1 pochard
Offham hangar: 150 house martins
Reedbed: 1 green woodpecker

Sunday 21 Sept

Wetland Discovery area: 15 mallards, 8 gadwall, 3 Canada geese, 1 blue tit, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 1 coot, 3 tufted ducks
Ramsar and Sand martin hide: 7 wigeon
Scrape hide: 16 shovelers, 1 kingfisher
Path near Coastal Creek: 1 glow worm larvae.

Sat 20 Sept

Ramsar and Sand Martin hide: 19 gadwall, 1 great white egret, 46 cattle egrets, 3 teal, 12 shovelers
Scrape hide: 11 shovelers, 5 teal, 1 kingfisher
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 16 mallards, 3 gadwall
Wetland Discovery: 1 pochard

Fri 19 Sept

Ramsar and Sand Martin hide: 49 cattle egrets
Wet grassland: 1 water rail
Offfham hanger and over reserve: 1 osprey
Woodland Loop: 3 robins, 7 mallards, 1 coot, 2 great tits, 1 mandarin duck, 2 moorhens, 4 chaffinches, 4 blue tits.

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