Snipe, raptors and egrets
Snipe have been easier to see lately with the fen cuts at the hides complete. The Scrape Hide is hotspot for these shy little waders. Look for snipe at the Ramsar hide, especially around the fen cut to the right of the hide.
Kingfishers have been active onsite this week. Look out for them at the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides, on the Arun Riverlife Lagoon, and at the Scrape hide. One was also seen along the Reedbed boardwalk, and on Thursday morning a Reserve Warden spotted a kingfisher at Pelican Cove.
There have been plenty of raptor sightings this week. On Saturday, 6 December, a peregrine was seen flying overhead from the Lapwing hide towards Offham Hangar. Marsh and hen harriers continue to arrive for the evening roost. On 7 December, staff at the Scrape hide recorded three marsh harriers and three hen harriers (one male and two ringtails). A sparrowhawk was observed on 9 December at the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides. On Wednesday morning, a marsh harrier was seen circling the reedbed at 9:20 am.
Songbirds noted across the reserve during the week included a song thrush, four blue tits, two dunnocks, a robin, a goldcrest, a wren, and three blackbirds around the Arun Riverlife Lagoon. The Wetland Discovery hide hosted chaffinch, firecrest, wren, robin, pheasant, woodpigeon, and additional goldcrests. A rich mix of resident and wintering songbirds is active across the site.
Great white egrets are appearing regularly, with three recorded on 11 December at the large lagoon. Little egrets were also seen. On 7 December, the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides hosted two great white egrets, one little egret, two cattle egrets, and two grey herons during the morning count.
Highlights: glossy ibis, 38 wigeon, 41 shoveler, hen harriers, marsh harriers, firecrests, kingfisher
Thurs 11 Dec
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 2 shelducks, 4 pochards
Pelican Cove: 1 kingfisher
Reedswamp exhibit: 1 song thrush
Reedbed: 2 wren, 41 mallards, 5 coots, 2 moorhens, 1 dunnock, 1 firecrest, 2 woodpigeon, 2 robin, 1 blackbird, 1 stock dove, 2 goldfinches, 2 blue tits, 2 Cetti’s warblers, 1 greenfinch
Woodland Loop: 2 mandarin ducks
Large lagoon: 3 great white egrets, 5 lapwings, 1 little egret, 2 shelducks, 1 water rail.
Wed 10 Dec
Ramsar and Sand Martin hide: 2 pochards, 2 great white egrets, 1 little egret, 2 snipe in fen cut right of the hide, glossy bis in trees between the hides.
Scrape hide: 36 mallards, 51 shoveler, 37 teal, 5 Canada geese, 2 pochards, 2 shelducks, 6 gadwall, 11 snipe on the fen cut
Woodland Loop: 2 mandarin ducks
Lost reedbed: 1 marsh harrier circling above.
Tues 9 Dec
Arun Riverlife Lagoon: 4 pochard
Ramsar and Sand martin hide: 2 great white egrets, 3 wigeon, 38 teal, 41 shoveler ducks, 33 mallards, 20 gadwall, 14 tufted ducks, 4 moorhens, 2 coots, 4 lapwing, 2 snipe, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 goosander, 1 carrion crow, 1 kingfisher, 3 pochards, 2 shelducks, 1 little egret, 2 Canada geese
Scrape hide: 2 pochards, 1 goldcrest
Sun 7 Dec
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 pochard
Ramsar and Sand martin hide: 3 shelducks, 2 great white egrets. 1 goosander, 6 pochard, 2 grey herons, 1 little egret, 10 lapwing, 2 cattle egrets, 1 kingfisher, 4 cackling X barnacle geese
Scrape Hide: 3 marsh harriers, 3 hen harriers, 7 snipe, 4 pochard, 2 shelduck
Wetland Discovery hide: 1 chaffinch, 1 firecrest, 14 mallards, 1 tufted duck, 1 wren, 1 robin, 2 pheasant, 1 coot, 1 moorhen, 1 woodpigeon
Sat 6 Dec
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 goosander, 1 kingfisher, 1 grey heron, 28 mallards, 11 tufted ducks, 1 song thrush, 4 blue tits, 2 coots, 2 gadwall, 4 snipe, 2 Canada geese, 2 dunnock, 1 robin, 1 goldcrest, 1 wren, 3 blackbirds, 2 pochards, 1 moorhen
Reedbed boardwalk: 1 kingfisher
Scrape hide: 1 kingfisher
Ramsar and Sand Martin hide: 2 great white egrets, 1 cattle egrets, 10 lapwing, 2 snipe, 1 kingfisher, 2 Egyptian geese
Lapwing hide: 1 peregrine (overhead flying to Offham hangar)
Wet Grassland: 1 water rail by the staff footbridge of main path.
