Arundel Wildfowl

Another visit to Arundel Wildfowl Trust and quite a few changes since last time I was here.  The Wetlands Discovery Area is complete and well established with a 'quiet' path around the area and two hides close to it.  One was closed and the presence of young children running around screaming didn't exactly make it the tranquil area it was intended.

Plenty of young chicks around - mallard, coot and moorhen mainly with a few young shelduck on the ponds.  Coot and moorhen chicks that only their mum could love, nothing like the cuter and fluffier shelduck chicks.

The Scrape area has been opened up and there's a new sand martin hide overlooking the riverside pools that hadn't even been started last time I was here, although no sand martins around.

Quite a few warblers - Reed, Sedge and Cetti's.  There was a buzzard and kestrel flying over the woods and a number of woodland birds in the woodland walk area which comes out in the reedbed.

Probably not the best time to come on a sunny weekend when there are plenty of family and weekenders around who are more interested in feeding the exotics and fluffy duckings than being aware of the 'wild' birds.

It's probably one of the reasons why it's not one of my favourite locations.  Possibly better in the winter or on a weekday and I'd like to see what's out in the Discovery area.