Sussex Scrapbook
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Wildlife walks throughout the year
Saturday 28th January 2006
Warnham Nature Reserve
We took the train and had a quick visit to the Warnham Nature Reserve on the
outskirts of Horsham, although it was freezing cold and windy. It costs only 50p
to enter the well managed reserve and it is worth so much more. It is possible
to get really good views of kingfishers at Warnham, but we didn't get a peek of
one today. We did however see Brambling, Siskin, Nuthatch, Reed bunting,
Long-tailed tits, little grebe, goldfinch and great crested grebe.
In the end we had to give up due to the bitter cold, not helped by the fact that
I had packed a flask of tea but had forgotten the cups! We got back to the
reserve's tea shop just in time to get some disposable cups from them before
they shut, so we had a warm up in the hide before we left for home.
Here's the map of the reserve. The place
is a little oasis surrounded by a golf course, a railway line and the A24. It is
also in the town of Horsham. You still get a feeling that you are miles away
from the hubbub of modern life.
This is the old mill that used to use the
Warnham mill pond as it's power source. It has in recent years been used by the
local council as offices. It is now for rent if you're interested.
This is the first view of the reserve you
get, from the road outside. It is a favourite haunt of kingfishers and grey
wagtails.
Dems da rules!
The entrance and tea room.
This is the view from the first hide on
the reserve.
Time for a cup of warm-up!