Sussex
Scrapbook ~ Wildlife walks throughout the year
Friday 14th October 2011
Amberley - Wepham Down - The Burgh - Amberley
7 miles
The Burgh area has been
so productive in terms of raptors lately that I just couldn't resist going for another
quick hunt, besides, Wepham Down is just a beautiful place to be on such a
sunny, autumn afternoon.
I'd only got as far as Downs Farm before the first
Red Kite
turned up. These birds which were once extinct in England are now doing so well
that you can expect to see them every time you come to this area. Kites prefer
to eat carrion so maybe they're making sure that all of the road kill on Sussex
roads isn't going to waste. If they are then they're doing a fantastic job of
recycling.
Kestrels and Buzzards soon followed, as well as flock after flock of
Goldfinch and Linnet. It soon became apparent which bird was going to take
centre stage though, as it seemed that every five minutes I was being treated to
a fly-past by a
Hen Harrier. There appeared to be at least three individuals,
perhaps even four, including a very rufous juvenile and they had the most amazing ability to just vanish and reappear somewhere else.
Rackham Hill.
Red Kite.
A Kestrel on its favourite perch.
Female Stonechat surrounded by flies.
Hen Harriers at the Burgh.
Take the time to read
the
countryside code for yourself and please stick to it at all times.