Monday 6th October 2025
WWT Arundel
A delightful twitch at the Wetlands Centre at Arundel this afternoon, when I got some of the closest views ever of an Osprey fishing on the lake outside the Sand Martin Hide.
2025 species count = 191
191 Osprey
Monday 6th October 2025
WWT Arundel
A delightful twitch at the Wetlands Centre at Arundel this afternoon, when I got some of the closest views ever of an Osprey fishing on the lake outside the Sand Martin Hide.
2025 species count = 191
191 Osprey
Friday 3rd October 2025
09.00 to 12.30
Arlington Reservoir
Ashdown Bird Group
(6 members present)
Trip
Report
This morning’s visit was dominated by the
weather. With strong winds and rain
predicted, it initially looked as though it would not go ahead. However, at the last
minute, a possible slot of better weather was forecast. That’s how it turned out, and by the time we arrived at the venue, the rain had eased, and we decided to go ahead. Tim S joined us for the first time.
Route Map
We met in the car park and then spent the morning
and early afternoon following the clockwise route around the reservoir. When we got back to the start we then looked
for woodland birds in the nearby trees on both sides of the road.
Given the adverse conditions, we were both
surprised and delighted to accumulate a species list of 45 birds.
We got off to a flying start, seeing
over twenty birds in the first fifteen minutes.
Courtesy of Martin Jeffree
Just after half an hour in, we saw our
second raptor.
Courtesy of Martin Jeffree
Arlington is famed for its gulls and we
saw several today.
Courtesy of Martin Jeffree
On the eastern side, at the dam end, we
met the full force of the wind. This, however, was where we saw most action.
By now, our attention had been drawn to other waders.
Courtesy of Martin Jeffree
Courtesy of Ian Hodgson
Courtesy of Martin Jeffree
We paused for some time at the southern
corner of the reservoir, just before Polhill Farm, to take a good look at the
many birds that had collected there.
Courtesy
of Martin Jeffree
Courtesy of Ian Hodgson
The back of Polhill Farm is a
well-known hotspot for several birds and so it proved today.
Courtesy
of Martin Jeffree
On the return, the western leg had a
few sightings.
Back at the car park we decided to look
for woodland birds in the tree-lined areas between the reservoir and the
road. We were palpably unsuccessful!
Courtesy of Ian Hodgson
Ian’s subsequent research suggested it
was either a Raymond Ash or an Autumn Purple Ash, with him leaning
towards the former.
Our final action saw us cross the road
into the woods to continue our search for woodland birds. Here, too, we drew a blank.
Courtesy of Martin Jeffree
Everyone left feeling happy that we had eked out a
good birding trip when none seemed possible, and we were all delighted, if somewhat surprised, to learn that our species count had reached forty-five.
Thanks, John, for this trip – I am sure Arlington
Reservoir will feature more in our plans from here on.
Thanks, Ian and Martin, for the lovely photographs.
Thanks, Tim, for taking a leading role in this, your
first outing with us.
Species
List:
Name: |
Count |
Name: |
Count |
|
Black-headed Gull |
1 |
House Sparrow |
24 |
|
Blackbird |
2 |
Jackdaw |
25 |
|
Blue Tit |
3 |
Kingfisher |
26 |
|
Canada Goose |
4 |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
27 |
|
Carrion Crow |
5 |
Linnet |
28 |
|
Chiffchaff |
6 |
Little Egret |
29 |
|
Common Gull |
7 |
Long-tailed Tit |
30 |
|
Common Sandpiper |
8 |
Magpie |
31 |
|
Coot |
9 |
Mallard |
32 |
|
Cormorant |
10 |
Peregrine |
33 |
|
Dunlin |
11 |
Pied Wagtail |
34 |
|
Dunnock |
12 |
Pochard |
35 |
|
Egyptian Goose |
13 |
Raven |
36 |
|
Goldcrest |
14 |
Red Kite |
37 |
|
Goldfinch |
15 |
Ringed Plover |
38 |
|
Great Black-backed Gull |
16 |
Robin |
39 |
|
Great Crested Grebe |
17 |
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon |
40 |
|
Great Spotted Woodpecker |
18 |
Rook |
41 |
|
Great Tit |
19 |
Starling |
42 |
|
Grey Heron |
20 |
Swallow |
43 |
|
Greylag Goose |
21 |
Woodpigeon |
44 |
|
Herring Gull |
22 |
Wren |
45 |
|
Hobby |
23 |
|||
Species count = 45
Bob Hastings
2025 species count = 190
No new birds