Goosander, stonechats and barn owls

The Arun lagoon project will be completed in the coming weeks and the Reserve team are cutting the Wet Grassland at the same time, with the aim of completing all works at that end of the reserve together. Coordinating these works should allow wintering wildfowl and waders to enjoy this area free from disturbance. Stonechats have been regular visitors to any available reed stem in the area, perusing the grassland for juicy worms!

The team have worked hard on the entrance pond to push back the encroachment of reed and sedge, and increase the area of open water – much to the delight of a young Grey Heron appearing there.

Marsh harriers continue to roost in the reedbed in good numbers, with the last survey showing eight individuals coming in to roost. Kingfishers are still showing well throughout the reserve.

Redwings can be seen flitting about the hedgerows, taking advantage of any remaining berries. The young male Kestrel is enjoying all the cut areas, making it easy for him to hunt mice. The Barn Owl has gone back to using the Lapwing Hide- we are seeing fresh pellets every morning.

At 3.45 pm on Wednesday we had a female goosander land on Arun Riverlife!

Recent sightings

Wed 8 Dec

Scrape hide: 5 greylag geese, 2 Canada goose, 2 shelduck, 8 shoveler, 21 mallard, 1 grey heron, 2 pintails, 1 little grebe.

Arun Riverlife: female goosander.

Tues 7 Dec

Ramsar hide: 25 black-headed gulls, 2 moorhens

Sand martin hide: 4 mallards, 1 shelducks, 3 teal

Scrape hide: 3 shoveler, 1 little grebe, 1 shelduck, 1 teal

Willow screen: 2 mandarin, 1 teal

Arun Riverlife: 1 black swan

Mon 6 Dec

Lapwing hide: 1 grey heron

Sussex screen: a pair of teal, 1 kingfisher, 57 mallard (36 male, 21 female), 1 mandarin duck

Scrape hide: 1 snipe, 3 Canada geese, a pair of shelduck, 3 shovelers, 1 gadwall, 54 greylag geese, 1 water rail.

Arun Riverlife: great white egret, 2 little grebes, 1 black swan, a pair of mute swans

Long path: 1 green woodpecker

Woodloop: 1 water rail, 3 goldfinches

Wetland Discovery: 1 water rail

Tranquil trail: a pair of bullfinches, 2 goldfinches, 1 little egret

Wet grassland: 3 stonechats, 24 snipe (pm)

Reedbed: 1 marsh harrier

Woodloop: sparrowhawk (pm)

Sun 5 Dec

Arun Riverlife: 2 pochards, 6 shelducks

Scrape hide: 2 shoveler, 2 shelducks, 1 pin tail

Sand Martin hide: 2 teal, 2 shelduck

Wetland Discovery: 23 mallard, 1 moorhen, 3 coots, 1 wood pigeon, 2 chaffinches, 8 blackbird, 4 redwing, 1 bullfinch, 2 tufted ducks, 2 goldfinch, 1 black-headed girl, 1 peregrine.

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