Monday 23rd February 2026: West Dean and Arundel WWT

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 We started our day walking up the Monkton track at West Dean. A  Greenfinch serenaded us as we walked up the hill, although it took us some time to actually locate the bird. An assortment of regular passerines were found around the lower bushes, and we were soon passing beside the fields, and from this section of the track we could scan the distant coniferous treetops. It didn’t take us long to find two Goshawks soaring here, powerful birds with long tails, and notably different in structure than the Buzzards also riding the thermals nearby. 

We continued to the first gateway, where we paused to scan the deciduous trees across the field. A group of Redwings flew across to settle in a tree, and a couple of Mistle Thrush also passed through. A Raven perched in a tree, cronking quietly, later seen in flight with its partner. Three Red Kites also flew lazily across the valley, occasionally dipping a wingtip and twitching a rudder-like forked tail to manoeuvre.

A number of small finches flew past, sometimes alighting in the treetops, but the scope revealed them to be nothing more than Chaffinches. A flock of seven Fieldfares flew across and over the treetops. As we descended from the top of the track, we found a pair of Marsh Tit, which we had heard calling on our way up and a Great Spotted Woodpecker landed in a tall tree. 

Finally, back at the gateway, we had another scan, and I managed to find a single Brambling in the scope. It stayed just long enough for the others to view, before disappearing. With mission accomplished, we decided to move on to pastures new.

We arrived at Arundel WWT at lunchtime, so ate before a circuit round the reserve. The cafe overlooked an open expanse of water, where a Goosander was noteworthy. At the feeders we found another Marsh Tit. From Scrape Hide there were a variety of ducks, including Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard and Tufted Duck. There were plenty of Lapwings on the islands and banks, together with a few Oystercatchers.

Moving on to Ramsar Hide, a group of Snipe were feeding in the vegetation at the pool margins, and in the reeds on the other side of the hide, Tim and Sue both had a good view of a Cetti’s Warbler, but I only really managed the tail end view as it skulked deep into the reeds. A Kingfisher flashed past at speed, its blue iridescent back shimmering in the bright sunshine. Suddenly a group of 55 Cattle Egrets flew in and landed on the island, giving great views.

After some time watching the activity here, and with the light beginning to drop, we decided to call it a day and head for home.

Cattle Egret

Snipe


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