Arundel Wetland Centre WWT Arundel Wetland Centre news

DesertRhino150

DesertRhino150

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
I was just looking through the WWT Magazine 'Waterlife' - the November 2020 to February 2021 edition, when I found news about a couple of exhibits at Arundel that have recently or are about to open.

Opened earlier this year is Pelican Cove, an enclosure currently home to six female Dalmatian pelicans (five from Rotterdam Zoo and another from WWT Washington). Thy are sharing their enclosure with red-breasted geese, which are being used to help keep the grass in the enclosure in check.

News about the opening, with a video of the pelicans being released into the enclosure, is included here:
Take a Peek at Pelican Cove

The news article from 'Waterlife' also talks about another new aviary opening at Arundel in October (not entirely certain which one - 2020 or 2021). It will be the largest specialist diving duck aviary in the UK, housing common scoter, spectacled eider, long-tailed duck and harlequin duck as well as native waders such as common redshank and pied avocet. An acrylic wall will allow visitors to see the ducks diving for food during twice daily feeding demonstrations.

The issue of 'Waterlife' is included here - the developments at Arundel are mentioned on page 11:
Waterlife 214 November 2020 / February 2021
 
Both the pelican cove and seabird aviary were opened when I visited in April. I posted some photos in the gallery and thought both exhibits were done to a high standard and suitable for the birds.
 
Visited today - not much to report really other than it's a fantastic place - imagine if their last Blue duck 'Jerry' was still knocking around! I counted 4.5 Scoters, 3.1 Scaly-sided mergansers, 2.4 Harlequin ducks, around 5 redshanks, 3 avocets, and maybe 3.4 eiders although I'm not so sure about the latter. Long-tailed ducks doing well as well, maybe 2.3 iirc. Generally great visit, also in terms of wildlife, would highly recommend. Also got to see the scoters diving, will be uploading pics on Saturday :).
 
I had a most enjoyable visit last month , my first for many years . Unfortunately the Sea Duck Aviary was still closed so I could only see the birds from a distance . I was able to identify all species with my binoculars . The highlight to me was in the old Blue Ducks waterfall aviaries , in 2 of them were a total of 7 Black-necked Grebes . These lovely little birds were in full breeding finery and were nesting , one nest contained 2 eggs though they were not being incubated . I knew Arundel had the species and , given the number seen , wonder if they have bred there .
 
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