WEST SUSSEX
A winter walk through the Arun Valley
MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS
Amberley Wild Brooks, together with Pulborough Brooks to the north, forms an extensive area of the Arun Valley that floods most winters, when it is transformed into a mosaic of wetland habitats.
Large numbers of wildfowl and waders are the main attraction, which in turn lures in birds of prey including Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl, and increasingly one or two White-tailed Eagles from the recent reintroduction programme on the Isle of Wight.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 From the car park at Rackham Woods, check tit and crest flocks for the presence of the declining Marsh Tit, along with a chance of a Firecrest in the plantations that also holds the occasional Woodcock. Typical woodland birds such as Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Stock Dove, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Jay and Tawny Owl are resident, while the diminutive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is best searched for when ‘drumming’ commences in late winter. From the viewpoint at dusk, scan along the ridge for birds coming to roost, such as winter thrushes, Woodpigeons, Starlings and corvids, which may attract a 3 passing Sparrowhawk or Peregrine. A good time of day to watch a hunting Short-eared or Barn Owl over the flooded fields.
2 Another viewpoint just east of Amberley village affords superb views across the Wild Brooks, and a favoured area for small numbers of wintering White-fronted Geese and Bewick’s Swans among their commoner congeners. Large numbers of wildfowl comprise mostly Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal, along with a few Pintail and Shelduck. Check field margins for Grey Heron, Little and Great White Egrets while Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis are increasingly seen. Check the trees at the village end of the Wey South Path for Lesser Redpoll and Siskin amongst charms of Goldfinches, and hedgerow scrub for Cetti’s Warbler. Flooded grazing pasture should yield flocks of Lapwing, Starling, Redwing and Fieldfare, plus the occasional Mistle Thrush, Snipe and Jack Snipe, and Reed Bunting.
3 From the black barn, check out the old willows for a perched Little Owl, Buzzard or Kestrel. This area of the valley regularly floods, attracting thousands of wildfowl along with variable numbers of waders such as Black-tailed God
