Sand martins have been moving through the reserve migrating south to winter in Africa. Over one hundreds sand martins were spotted Monday.
Also on their autumn passage are 5 spotted flycatchers spotted on the islands of Wetland Discovery area over the past few days. (see photo above)
Teal and gadwall numbers have been on the increase as well.
Recent Wildlife sightings
Ramsar and Sand Martin hide: 1 grey heron, 52 black-headed gulls, 3 herring gulls, 12 mallards, 1 shoveler, 2 coots, 2 moorhens, 30+ sand martins.
Scrape hide: 8 teal, 5 shoveler.
100+ sand martins in the sky over the site in the car park, Arun Riverlife lagoon, Sand Martin hide and reedbeds.
Wetlands Discovery: 2 spotted flycatchers on dead tree on the small island, 8 mallards, 2 reed warblers, 1 kingfisher
Scrape hide: 1 kingfisher
Pelican Cove reeds: 1 sedge warbler, 8 gadwall.
Ramsar hide: 1 little egret, 1 pochard, 6 shoveler, 4 gadwall, 2 teal.
Long path: 3 Cetti’s warbler, 2 common darter dragonflies, 1 southern hawker dragonfly
Reedbed: 1 chiff chaff
Arun Riverlife: 1 little grebe, 2 black caps
Arun Riverlife lagoon: 17 Black-headed gulls, 14 mallards, 11 Canada geese, 1 little grebe 4 sand martins
Wetland Discovery: c30 sand martins, 1 kingfisher
Ramsar hide: c50 sand martins
Scrape hide: 14 shoveler, 4 teal, 12 gadwall, and 10 sand martins
Wood Loop: 4 blue tits, 4 moorhens, and 2 mallards
Reedbed boardwalk: 3 chaffinches, 2 chiff chaff, 7 reed warblers, 1 water rail, 1 sedge warbler, 1 reedbed hide.
Arun Riverlife: 1 buzzard, 3 little grebe, 1 tufted ducks
Pelican Cove: 6 gadwall, 6 tufted ducks, 1 mute swan, 1 grey heron
Lakes & Forest: pied flycatcher,
Wood Loop: 1 marsh tit, 1 black cap, 1 great spotted woodpecker,
Reedbed: 1 marsh harrier
Scrape hide: 1 black cap, 1 chiff chaff, 11 mallards, 1 reed warblers, 7 teal, 1 shoveler, 1 kingfisher, 2 coots, 1 moorhen, 1 gadwall, 1 green woodpecker, 1 grey wagtail, 1 blue tit, 1 little grebe, 2 Egyptian geese.
Sand martin hide: 6 sand martins, 2 house martins, 2 little egrets, 1 willow warbler