Sussex
Scrapbook ~ Wildlife walks throughout the year
Sunday 26th December 2011
Amberley - Burpham - The Burgh - North Stoke - Amberley
8.4 miles
Laden with turkey
sandwiches we arrived at a deserted Amberley station at 10:30. Just outside, in
the horse field opposite, sat a very pale Buzzard. It's surprising how many
times we see a bird of prey in this field, perhaps they all like train spotting.
Slowly, as we were still stuffed from yesterday, we made our way up to the top
of Rackham
Hill to sit in our favourite spot and have a cuppa - the ramp-looking spot where
they used to launch gliders from in the early 20th century. Sussex
looked very drizzly from up there but the clouds were showing signs of
dissipating from stratus to cumulus.
Further on up at the The Burgh the birdlife was still as good as ever: Kestrels, Buzzards,
Corn
Buntings, Goldfinches, Ravens, Fieldfare, Ringtail Harriers and we watched a
male
Hen harrier on several occasions as it explored the area. The person who seemed
to get the best view of this magnificent and rare creature was the estate gamekeeper
(see below), who luckily for us is a
friend to all of the wild birds as well as his partridge and pheasant.
.JPG)
The first thing we saw - a very
pale-looking Buzzard, in fact we think it may be a
Rough-legged Buzzard.
.JPG)
A rather ill looking rabbit!
Black Bryony berries - don't eat 'em!
Male Hen Harrier - slightly distant but who cares!
.JPG)
One of two
Ravens
we saw. They're slowly becoming more numerous in Sussex.
.JPG)
Coming into Burpham village and seconds
later we get a close fly-by from the male Harrier again.
.JPG)
A lovely view across to Arundel from up near Peppering High Barn.
.JPG)
The skinny moon with Venus shining brightly to its left.
Take the time to read
the
countryside code for yourself and please stick to it at all times.