Sand martins, oystercatchers and lapwing

Oystercatchers have been popping up at Pelican Cove and the large lagoon between Ramsar and Sand Martin hides. Their repeat appearances they’re pretty sorting out some nesting spots.

A few pairs of Lapwings have remained onsite and it appears at least one female sitting tight on a nest, which is encouraging to see. Fingers crossed for them this season.

Sand Martins have been entertaining visitors, a lively, fast flying spectacle that really brings the wetlands to life at this time of year. Numbering sometimes over 100 birds swirling low over the water at Sand Martin Hide and the Scrape Hide. They’ve been feeding busily and popping in and out of holes in the Sand Martin Hide’s nesting banks.

Plenty of families of wild Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Coots and Moorhens about on the ponds, ditches, scrapes and pathways.

Highlights: Blackcap, Cattle Egret, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Snipe, Whitethroat

Monday 27 April

• Wetland Discovery area: 1 Pochard
• Lapwing Hide: 2 Mallards, 8 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Wren, 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 Gadwall
• Waterside Walk: 1 Green Woodpecker
• Ramsar & Sand Martin Hide: 3 Lapwings (female on nest), 1 Oystercatcher, c.80 Sand Martins
• Scrape Hide: 3 Pochards, c.40 Sand Martins

Sunday 26 April

• Wetland Discovery area: 2 Sedge Warblers, 5 Mallards, 4 Greylag Geese, 8 Canada Geese, 6 Tufted Ducks, 2 Robins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackbird, 2 Gadwalls, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Tit
• Scrape Hide: 3 Shelducks, 3 Pochards, c.30 Sand Martins
• Reedbed Platform: 1 Snipe
• Ramsar & Sand Martin Hide: 4 Lapwings (female on nest), 2 Cackling Geese, 1 Shelduck, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Oystercatcher, c.50 Sand Martins, 1 Egyptian Goose
• Pelican Cove: 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Pochards

Saturday 25 April

• Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 4 Gadwalls, 12 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, 10 Tufted Ducks, 2 Coots, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Blue Tits, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 14 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch
• Waterside Walk: 1 Pochard
• Ramsar & Sand Martin Hide: 6 Pochards, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Goosander, 1 Little Egret, 4 Lapwings, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Cackling Goose, c.50 Sand Martins
• Scrape Hide: 1 Lapwing, 2 Egyptian Geese (with 1 gosling), 2 Shelducks, c.40 Sand Martins

Friday 24 April

• Woodland Loop: 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Robins, 3 Wrens, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Blue Tits, 2 Mandarin Ducks (pair), 2 Mallards (pair), 1 Moorhen with 3 chicks

Thursday 23 April

• Wetland Discovery area: 1 Pochard
• Ramsar & Sand Martin Hide Lagoon: 4 Lapwings, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cackling Goose, 1 Shelduck, 1 Common Sandpiper
• Waterside Walk: 1 Pochard
• Pond (approaching Scrape Hide): 1 Greenfinch (on feeder)
• Scrape Hide: 2 Shelducks, 3 Pochards, 1 Marsh Harrier
• Reedbed: 2 Blue Tits, 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Wren, 7 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Woodpigeon, 6 Mallards, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 9 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Tufted Ducks, 1 Coot with 1 chick
• Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 1 Whitethroat
• Woodland Loop: 3 Mandarin Ducks, 1 Coal Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tits
• Dragonfly Pond: 1 Hairy Dragonfly

Wednesday 22 April

• Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 8 Tufted Ducks, 3 Gadwalls
• Pelican Cove: 1 Grey Wagtail
• Meadow Pond: 2 Gadwalls
• Woodland Loop: 1 Mandarin Duck, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Reedbed: 1 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Ducks
• Willow Sphere: 2 Gadwalls, 5 Tufted Ducks
• Reedbed Viewing Platform: 1 Marsh Harrier
• Scrape Hide: 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Shelducks, 3 Pochards, 4 Teal, 3 Shovelers, 8 Canada Geese, 8 Gadwalls, 1 Wren, 8 Tufted Ducks, c.20 Sand Martins, 8 Greylag Geese, 2 Mallards, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Moorhen
• Sand Martin Hide: 3 Shovelers, 8 Gadwalls, 2 Tufted Ducks, c.120 Sand Martins, 2 Egyptian Geese
• Waterside Walk: 3 Pochards, 5 Tufted Ducks
• Ramsar Hide: 1 Shelduck, 3 Gadwalls, 4 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Lapwings, 1 Shoveler, 1 Cormorant, 1 Goosander, 1 Marsh Harrier
• Wetland Discovery area: 1 Pochard, 1 Mandarin Duck, 1 Tufted Duck
• Lapwing Hide: 1 Grey Heron, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Gadwalls, 1 male reed bunting

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