Teal, gadwall and snipe
This week had bird numbers on the increase.
Teal were especially plentiful on 29 January, with over fifty birds gathered around the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides. A further good number were seen again on 27 January in the same spot.
Lapwing were another regular feature, with the largest flock appearing on 31 January, when more than forty birds were recorded around the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides. Smaller groups continued throughout the week, adding plenty of movement to the lagoon edges.
It was also an excellent week for snipe, which showed well on multiple days. The highest counts came on 30 January and 28 January, with over twenty birds each time around the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides, often tucked into the vegetation.
A standout moment for gadwall occurred on 27 January, when an impressive group of forty birds was seen from the Ramsar and Sand Martin hides in the morning, creating a lively mix among the other wintering ducks.
Highlights: Teal, lapwing, gadwall, snipe, kingfishersm great white egret
Sat 31 Jan 2026
Arun Riverlife:
3 snipe, 1 little egret, 2 Egyptian geese, 2 gadwall, 22 mallards, 10 Canada geese, 2 greylag geese, 1 kingfisher, 2 coots, 6 tufted ducks, 1 robin, 2 cormorants, 13 snipe
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
11 shelducks, 41 lapwings, 1 great white egret, 2 pochards, 2 wigeon, 1 firecrest (on approach to hide)
Thurs 29 Jan
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
1 pochard, 2 Egyptian geese, 1 little egret, 2 shelducks, 1 green woodpecker (back hedge)
Tranquil Trail:
1 goldcrest, 4 long‑tailed tits
Wetland Discovery:
1 pochard
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
4 cackling × barnacle geese, 39 lapwing, 1 great white egret, 19 snipe, 3 pochard, 52 teal, 9 cormorants, 2 pintails, 1 shelduck
Scrape Hide:
2 shelducks
Reedbed:
27 mallards, 3 blue tits, 2 robins, 1 carrion crow, 3 moorhens, 4 snipe, 2 blackbirds, 1 song thrush
Woodland Loop:
1 marsh tit, 1 coal tit, 8 long‑tailed tits, 1 greenfinch, 1 song thrush
Over the Reserve:
1 red kite
Fri 30 Jan
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
2 great black‑backed gulls, 1 little egret, 1 great white egret, 3 pochard, 23 lapwing, 24 snipe, 1 Egyptian goose
Scrape Hide:
4 pochards, 1 snipe
Woodland Loop:
5 wood pigeons, 1 song thrush, 5 blue tits, 3 moorhens, 2 chaffinches, 3 blackbirds, 8 long‑tailed tits, 2 dunnocks, 1 coal tit, 2 mallards, 1 jackdaw
Pelican Cove:
1 pochard
Wed 28 Jan
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
1 male pochard
Wetland Discovery Area:
1 female pochard
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
24 snipe (9 right of Ramsar hide, 15 in front of Sand Martin hide), 15 lapwing, 6 pochard, 1 goosander, 1 great white egret, 4 shelducks
Scrape Hide:
16 mallards, 3 Canada geese, 1 kingfisher, 1 coot
Pelican Cove:
1 female pochard
Tues 27 Jan
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
1 little egret, 2 Egyptian geese, 7 snipe, 3 pochards
Waterside Walk:
c.30 siskins in alder trees, 2 snipe
Reedbed:
3 snipe (cut area)
Pelican Cove:
1 female pochard
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
2 mute swans, 1 great white egret, 7 pochard, 38 mallards, 27 teal, 10 Canada geese, 2 Egyptian geese, 40 gadwall, 19 lapwing, 6 tufted ducks, 6 moorhens, 8 coots, 12 shoveler, 4 cormorants, 2 black‑headed gulls, 16 snipe, 1 carrion crow, 1 little egret
Wetland Discovery:
1 hen harrier (ringtail) flew over islands toward large lagoon
Mon 26 Jan
Lapwing Hide:
10 mallards, 1 blackbird, 1 Cetti’s warbler
Tranquil Trail:
3 bullfinches
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
4 male pochards, 1 female pochard, 1 great white egret, 19 lapwing, 7 snipe
Scrape Hide:
1 male pochard, 11 snipe, 1 hen harrier (ringtail) flyover
Waterside Walk:
1 male pochard, 1 goosander, 1 firecrest
Perimeter Fence (Gate 2):
1 woodcock
Sun 25 Jan
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
4 pochard (2 pairs)
Reed Swamp Exhibit:
2 male pochards, 1 female pochard
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
7 pochard, 9 shelducks, 16 lapwings, 13 snipe
Wetland Discovery:
1 carrion crow, 2 Canada geese, 1 robin, 4 blue tits, 21 mallards, 3 tufted ducks, 1 pochard, 2 wood pigeons, 1 great tit, 1 song thrush, 1 Cetti’s warbler
Sat 24 Jan
Arun Riverlife:
21 mallards, 3 pochards, 4 tufted ducks, 1 coot, 1 cormorant, 6 Canada geese
Pelican Cove:
1 pochard
Reed Swamp Exhibit:
3 pochards
Scrape Hide:
2 pochards
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
1 little egret, 2 cattle egrets, 1 great white egret, 23 lapwing, 9 snipe, 1 goosander, 5 shelducks
Fri 23 Jan
Arun Riverlife Lagoon:
3 cormorants, 1 little egret, 4 shelducks, 1 pochard, 1 goosander
Ramsar & Sand Martin Hides:
1 pintail, 9 pochards, 1 great white egret, 6 shelducks, 15 lapwing, 1 goosander, 9 snipe, 1 wigeon
Woodland Loop:
4 moorhens, 4 great tits, 9 blue tits, 3 robins, 5 goldfinches, 2 wood pigeons, 2 dunnocks, 8 chaffinches, 2 coal tits, 3 jackdaws
