Help with good birding locations near W Sussex (1 Viewer)

[jml2665]

Coming over in early July from Los Angeles for two weeks with my fiance who lives there in Worthing.
Looking to take some day trips for some birding in and around W Sussex or beyond. We are limited to the train out of Worthing Station east or west. Just need some good ideas for day trips or overnight excursions. I know there is a great little preserve above Arundel but that is all I can remember from my last visit three years ago. Any help with other good birding locations would be greatly appreciated

Regards
Jim

 

[delia todd]

Hi Jim

Here's the link to the Opus articles. It covers all of Sussex, but there are map links on the individual articles. You should be able to reach most via train/bus.

The reserve in Arundel is the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, we don't have an article for it yet. Above Arundel is Pulborough Brooks, an RSPB reserve.

I hope this keeps you going till some of the locals come in with more information.

D

 

[Stoggler]

Hi Jim

I think after LA you'll be in for a bit of a shock with Worthing...!

As for places to go in West Sussex, or Sussex as a whole then Delia is certainly right about Arundel and Pulborough. I've attached links to the relevant websites.

To the north of Worthing are the South Downs, the range of low hills which will becoming a national park in the next couple of years. There are a number of places on or near where you can get some birding in. I know of a nice place above the (large) village of Lancing called Lancing Ring (or Lancing Clump as the locals call it) - Lancing is just two stops on the railway out of Worthing eastwards towards Brighton. Details here, and map here.

Lancing Ring is quite popular with local dog walkers but in the early morning and in the evening you shouldn't see too many people and it's a lovely quiet place with plenty of wildlife about.

The Opus page from Delia has the best sites - the ones near Worthing would be Pagham Harbour (a train trip to Bognor or Chichester then a bus journey), the Adur Estuary (quick train trip from Worthing to Shoreham), and Chichester Harbour (not sure about getting there from Chichester station though, the local council website should be able to help).

I'll have a word with my dad to see if he can recommend anywhere else - he still lives in the area and is a keen birder. I know he likes the RSPB reserve at Pulborough Brooks, but he may know of other places.

Otherwise, enjoy your trip.

S

 

[jml2665]

Great Info

Thank You both,

Delia, I've already read the opus articles and I am planning to make stops at both your suggestions. I have visited the reserve in Arundel on past visits and the Pulborough Brook sounds promising for this trip as both of you suggested.

Stoggler, thanks for all your efforts, and to be honest Worthing never disappoints me, I've been making the trip each summer for 8 years and will probably relocate there in the near future, fiance visa is pending. Your links are great and I do plan on the South Downs. I've been there before and they are beautiful. Also attached here is a photo I took in 2007 on the Chichester Canal, and I do look forward to returning.

I look forward to others and their suggestions, searching the internet can not do justice to those who have been to these places, I appreciate all your support

Regards
Jim

 

[joannec]

Hi Jim

Here's a link to the Pagham Harbour site. It's probably the best place in West Sussex. It's pretty big and there is always a good variety of birds there. As you don't have a car it's probably best to get a train to Chichester from Worthing and then get a taxi. There are busses but I don't know how reliable they are. You won't be disappointed with Pagham.

http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/na...al-plain/pagham-harbour-local-nature-reserve/

You'll see sea birds from anywhere along the coast. West Sussex is not my part of Sussex so I don't know all the best places but Selsey is the best seawatch place which is near Pagham. Goring Gap is said to be good but I've not been there.

Shoreham Harbour is easy to get to from Worthing by public transport I think and the River Adur walking inland from Shoreham is good too. Time your visit for low tide if possible. Here's a link that tells you a bit about the habitat:

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Coastal.htm

Here's a link to the Sussex Ornithological Society site, click on 'recent sightings' to see what's around. There is loads of other info there too.

http://www.sos.org.uk/

There are other good places further east which is my part of Sussex. Let me know if you want further information on them.

Happy Sussex Birding
Joanne

Edit: Also check the 'Sussex Birding' thread:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=70382&page=20

 

[Stoggler]

You're welcome Jim

Cracking photo of the heron. Look forward to seeing more like it.

Just a quick addition to what Jean has said - the bus service from Chichester to Pagham Harbour (the village of Sidlesham) is actually very good - there is a bus every 15 minutes on Mondays thru Saturday (one bus every hour on Sundays) - here's a link to the bus timetable:

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/CHLink51timetable051008.pdf

Good luck with the visa.

S

 

[delia todd]

Also attached here is a photo I took in 2007 on the Chichester Canal, and I do look forward to returning.

That brought back memories, Jim - it's where I heard my first ever Chiffchaff. The last time I was there they were working on opening the canal right through to the harbour, not sure if it's finished yet.

D

 

[Stoggler]

The last time I was there they were working on opening the canal right through to the harbour, not sure if it's finished yet.
D

I believe it is now Delia

Regards

 

[SussexOG]

Jim,
If you would like part of day out birding, I could always show you around Pagham Harbour and its surrounds - a variety of habitats abound, so a good selection of birds is possible.

Regards,

Paul

 

[Stoggler]

Hi Jim

Got one more suggestion for you, and it's somewhere I've started to visit on a regular basis. I picked up a copy of "Where to Watch Birds in Britain" on Saturday (details here) and flicking through it it mentions Littlehampton/Climping.

This in on the west side of the River Arun at Littlehampton, and is an area of sand dunes, shingle beach, a golf course, reeds, small areas of open heath and woodland, and farmland. As a result, there's a variety of different birds in a fairly small area.

And it's easy to get to from Worthing by train - just get to Littlehampton (not the nicest of towns I should warn you!) and walk over the footbridge that you can see from the train as you arrive at Littlehampton and turn left at the other side down towards Littlehampton Gold Club, and you can't go wrong. It's worth walking as far as Atherington and up towards Climping.

The area in question is essentially the four grid squares on these links:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/browse.php?p=91092
http://www.geograph.org.uk/browse.php?p=91093
http://www.geograph.org.uk/browse.php?p=91094
http://www.geograph.org.uk/browse.php?p=90194
In general, if the sun is out it's a lovely quiet walk round there, so even if you're not there for the birds it's very pleasant.

S

 

[jml2665]

Stoggler, thank you. In fact to everyone who responded I want to send a word of thanks.

I've recently made some changes and will be leaving for the UK a bit earlier then planned, so my two week visit is now going to be at least a month. So good news more time to go birding. I will update this thread when I return in mid-July