Sand martins, reed buntings, marsh harrier
This week there was plenty of activity, song and new life on show at WWT Arundel. Sand martins were showing well at the Sand Martin and Scrape hide with lesser numbers at the Lapwing hide and on the Arun Riverlife lagoon.
Breeding season is clearly well underway. Greylag and Canada geese are about with goslings, we spotted a shelduck with ducklings, and several broods of pochard. A highlight for many visitors was a female mandarin duck leading her ducklings along the Woodland Loop. Lapwings were recorded most days, including a female on nest. An oystercatchers pair seem to be nest at Sand Martin hide.
Marsh harriers were seen on several occasions, including a food pass from male to female near the Scrape Hide. A cuckoo was also heard singing from the back of the water. Little egrets, grey heron and cormorants were spotted around the wetland scrapes and lagoon edges.
A good variety of warblers including chiffchaff, reed warbler, sedge warbler, willow warbler and Cetti’s warbler. Whitethroat and linnet at the Lapwing Hide stood out as notable sightings, alongside blackcap, chaffinch and treecreeper. Dragonfly season is underway with a male broad-bodied chaser recorded. The hedgerows at Pelican Cover were active with hundreds of spindle ermine moth larvae.
Overall, it’s been a rewarding and lively week, with lots to catch the eye wherever you walk.
This week's highlights: Whitethroat and linnet at the Lapwing Hide; sand martins; reed buntings; cuckoo; mandarin ducklings; shelduck ducklings; pochard ducklings; food exchange from male to female marsh harrier; common sandpiper.
Monday 4 May 2026
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
1 oystercatcher, 1 shelduck, 2 Egyptian geese
Waterside Walk:
2 pochard
Lapwing Hide:
4 Canada geese, 1 male mallard, 3 tufted ducks, c.15 sand martins, 1 carrion crow, 1 blackcap, 1 chiffchaff, 2 Cetti’s warblers, 1 blue tit
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hide:
5 lapwing, c.50 sand martins, 1 common sandpiper, 2 Egyptian geese, 2 shelducks
Scrape Hide:
3 pochard, 2 lapwing, 1 shelduck, c.20 sand martins
Sunday 3 May 2026
Wetland Discovery Area:
4 blue tits, 1 chiffchaff, 3 mallards (pair present), 2 greylag geese with 1 gosling, 1 moorhen, 2 tufted ducks, 10 Canada geese, 2 robins, 2 Cetti’s warblers, 1 wood pigeon, 1 wren, 1 blackcap, 1 chaffinch, 1 reed warbler, 1 sedge warbler
Ramsar Hide:
4 Canada geese with goslings, 2 lapwing, 1 little egret
Scrape Hide:
2 lapwing, 1 marsh harrier
Saturday 2 May 2026
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
1 mute swan, 9 Canada geese, 10 tufted ducks, 2 shelducks, 4 mallards, 4 gadwall, 1 moorhen, 1 coot, 1 sedge warbler, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 1 chaffinch, 1 great tit, 1 magpie
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hide:
2 lapwing, 2 oystercatchers, 1 little egret, 2 Egyptian geese, 2 pochard, 1 common gull, c.100 sand martins
Scrape Hide:
5 pochard, 2 Egyptian geese, c.30 sand martins, 1 cuckoo (singing behind the lagoon)
Woodland Loop:
1 mandarin duck with 4 ducklings
Pelican Cove:
Hundreds of spindle ermine moth larvae in the hedgerow
Friday 1 May 2026
Woodland Loop:
4 greylag geese with 6 goslings, 2 moorhens, 1 chiffchaff, 2 robins, 5 mallards, 5 blue tits, 1 mandarin duck, 1 wood pigeon, 2 wrens, 1 dunnock
Thursday 30 April 2026
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
2 lapwing (female on nest), 2 pochard (pair), 1 oystercatcher, 1 shelduck with at least 2 ducklings
Wetland Discovery Area:
Pair of pochard with 2 ducklings
Lapwing Hide:
1 reed bunting
Scrape Hide:
4 male pochard
Reedbed:
6 reed warblers, 1 robin, 1 reed bunting, 1 wren, 3 chiffchaffs, 1 wood pigeon, 1 blue tit, 2 magpies, 1 moorhen, 2 greylag geese, 2 male mallards, 1 willow warbler, 1 long‑tailed tit, 1 treecreeper
Reedbed – Willow Screen:
5 tufted ducks, 2 male mallards, pair of greylag geese, 1 coot with 1 juvenile, 1 chiffchaff, 2 reed warblers, 1 Canada goose, 1 black‑headed gull
Black Rabbit Triangle:
1 male broad‑bodied chaser dragonfly
Wednesday 29 April 2026
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
9 tufted ducks, c.15 sand martins, 1 grey wagtail
Pelican Cove:
1 gadwall
Reedswamp Exhibit:
1 pochard
Woodland Loop:
1 great spotted woodpecker, 5 mandarin ducks
Scrape Hide:
7 greylag geese, 9 Canada geese, 2 pochard, 4 mallards, 6 tufted ducks, 2 gadwall, 1 coot, 3 shelducks, 1 lapwing, 1 reed warbler, 1 shoveler, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 4 sand martins, 1 marsh harrier, 1 carrion crow, 1 black‑headed gull, 1 wood pigeon, 1 wren, 1 greenfinch, 1 chiffchaff
Lapwing Hide:
2 gadwall, 1 tufted duck, 1 whitethroat, 1 linnet
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
1 lapwing on the island
Scrape Hide:
2 shelducks, 4 pochard, c.20 sand martins, 1 Egyptian goose, 1 lapwing, 2 marsh harriers (aerial food pass)
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hide:
2 pairs of lapwing, 2 oystercatchers, 2 pairs of greylag geese with goslings, pair of Canada geese with goslings, 1 grey wagtail, 5 tufted ducks, 1 male marsh harrier, 15 gadwall, 4 male mallards, 2 cormorants, 1 mute swan, 2 moorhens, 4 black‑headed gulls, c.80 sand martins, 1 sedge warbler, 2 little egrets, 1 carrion crow, 1 cackling goose, 1 reed bunting, 2 shovelers, 1 wood pigeon, 2 common gulls
