Latest sightings
Wildlife Sightings column from Chichester Observer newspaper
Walk taken April 17 2012 by Paul Stevens A cold rain is falling and it is very windy - perfect weather for the swallows and martins to hawk for insects over Swan Lake. The low cloud and rain pushe [...]
26 April 2012
Lapwing chicks!
This morning there were four Lapwing chicks out from the Lapwing hide and the first of the eight pairs to hatch their young. Four Linnets feeding out from the Ramsar hide on the dry grassland was [...]
15 April 2012
LRP on wet grassland
Highlight of the day was a fantastic Little ringed Plover on the newly created wet grassland. It didn't stay for long but could this now be a regular sighting for the reserve? At least five Sa [...]
13 April 2012
Wet grassland magic
The pair of Redshank we had a week ago have returned and much more vocal this time! Will they stay and breed? Surprise bird of the morning was a male Linnet feeding out from the Ramsar hide on the [...]
4 April 2012
A trickle of migrants
Last weeks warm weather seems to have caused a trickle of early migrants. Sand Martin and Swallows have passed through and Chiffchaff have been singing in most areas of the reserve. Friday there w [...]
1 April 2012
Wildlife sightings
A really good mix of birds on the reserve at the moment. Highlights were 9 Shoveler and 9 Snipe from the Ramsar and Sand martin hides. Little grebes and water voles are busy on wetlands discov [...]
7 March 2012
Wet grassland birds
The newly developed wet grassland is beginning to come alive with several pairs of Lapwing, around 10 teal, several Shelduck, Gadwall, Canada and Greylag geese, along with the usual Moorh [...]
4 March 2012
Spring is in the air!
Fantastic views of displaying, fighting and nest scraping Lapwing from the lapwing and ramsar hides. A pair of Long tailed tits nest building along the tranquil trail. [...]
28 February 2012
Roosting swans and Lapwing
Quieter this morning as it is now warming after the cold spell. No sign of last weeks Bittern, but the cold has brought in 32 Bewicks swans most nights and a peak of 225 Lapwing. It seems [...]
14 February 2012
Freezing!
The series of cold days and nights have certainly effected the resident and visiting wildlife. Singing territorial birds have gone silent, shy retiring birds such as Bullfinch and Water r [...]
3 February 2012
Bewicks almost!
Very exciting last night as the calls of wild bewicks swans could be heard heading towards the reserve at 5.15pm. 26 swans circled the reserve several times getting lower and lower. Unfortunat [...]
18 January 2012
Teal up!
The cold weather seems to have increased the teal numbers with just under 90 counted this morning. [...]
16 January 2012
Starling roost dwindles
Just a note for those who are hoping to see the starling roost, that numbers have drastically reduced down to only a handful of individuals. The rest seem to have found a better alternative. M [...]
16 January 2012
Cool morning
The frosty morning seems to have brought in 6 shoveler and two wigeon, which have been absent for sometime now. [...]
13 January 2012
Tufted duck high
Fantastic count of 106 tufted duck on swan lake yesterday, but down to only 32 this morning. Stunning views of at least a dozen Bullfinches aound the reserve today. [...]
27 December 2011