Sussex
Scrapbook ~ Wildlife walks throughout the year
Tuesday 3rd April 2012
Pulborough - Parham - Kithurst Hill - The Burgh - Amberley Village - Amberley
Wildbrooks - Pulborough.
18 miles.
Nothing like a good
long march to shed some lard and on this 8 hour, 18 mile yomp in the hot sun I must have
shed about 10 pounds. It would have been even more if I hadn't powered it all with
sweet tea and digestive biscuits!
I had
Pulborough Brooks all to myself it seemed when I had a quick look around
for adders at 8am. No snakes unfortunately but no humans too, at least not until I
was leaving.
In Northpark Wood they've taken down hundreds of conifers and
planted broadleaf trees instead. It'll be a very different place in 10 years or
so.
Parham Park was
beautiful in the sunshine and the first cuppa of the day was very satisfying
while I surveyed the human-less area from a small hillock near the walled garden.
Quite a sweaty climb up to the top of Kithurst Hill was rewarded with a
Red Kite
soaring in the distance and a very close encounter with a
Redstart.
I picked up the pace somewhat and didn't stop until Rackham Hill where a cuppa
was urgently needed with lots of accompanying dunking!
Across the Wildbrooks a
Sparrowhawk did some superb
high-speed ground-hugging which took a flock of pigeons by
surprise, causing them to disperse in all directions and a
Water Rail that I
managed to surprise raced away to take cover in the hedgerow.
From there on it was another fast yomp to try and beat the rain clouds that were
starting to amass. Mission accomplished but the
ride home was through a
continuous downpour and I finally succumbed to a total soaking. Not a bad price
to pay for a gorgeous day's walk in sunshine and blue skies.
.JPG)
PB. Slightly misty and totally quiet apart from
Chiffchaffs shouting their heads
off.
.JPG)
A new wood in the making at (old) Northpark Wood.
A male
Redstart near Kithurst Hill.
A Brown Hare without a sparring partner.
The Burgh in the distance.
Amberley Wildbrooks and a few drops of rain start to fall, but thankfully
only a small shower.
The Cuckoo flowers (Cardamine pratensis) are out and now we're waiting for
the cuckoos.
A few Bluebells are starting to burst as well. Quite early too.
Another gate fastener for
Gill's collection. This one is at Hardham.
Comma Butterfly. Also seen;
Orange Tip,
Small white,
Peacock and
Speckled Wood.
Take the time to read
the
countryside code for yourself and please stick to it at all times.