There are
many ways of delimiting the Arun Valley, ranging from its geological structure
to parish boundaries. Here it is arbitrarily defined as the area extending about
three miles on either side of the river for the twenty miles from the sea to Pulborough.
Starting from the coast and travelling north, the Climping Gap and surrounding area runs west from the river mouth to Atherington and beyond. The patchwork of farmland, wood, dunes and shingle is worked by a dedicated band of watchers who have amassed a bird list of 265, including many rarities. For current sightings and further information see The Birds of Climping Gap and Lower Arun Valley site (climpingbirds.blogspot.co.uk).
Following the river north from Littlehampton to Ford and on to Arundel involves moving into feast or famine territory. The river, water meadows and hedgerows at times appear birdless. But no visit is entirely wasted. My own list for the Ford to Arundel stretch stands at 154, although the number of visits and the hours spent in the field is considerably bigger…
Beyond the
flood plain, the downs rising to the northwest are cloaked by woodland -- including
Binsted, Rewell, Screens and Water woods -- interspersed with open spaces. In
the right spots at the right seasons these woods are the haunt of a variety of
species including Firecrests, Tree Pipits, Woodcock, Hawfinches, Crossbills and
Nightjars. There are raptors, too, though in 1272 it was reported that there
were no eyries of falcons, hawks or herons here, although it added intriguingly
that an eyrie of sparrowhawks had been destroyed by bustards.
To the north of Arundel the river meets the Millstream, a short but often fruitful walk. It lies just south of Swanbourne Lake and the Wetland Centre (wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/arundel). Both are worth a look, with the former having recorded Ring-necked Duck and Spotted Sandpiper, and the latter having hosted Little Crake and Spotted Crake. Beyond them is the Black Rabbit, from which vantage point owls and harriers may at times be seen in winter.
Heading north the valley narrows and the river path passes Offham, where Bewick’s Swans can winter. To the east Burpham and North Stoke give access to the Burgh and its roster of downland birds and raptors. Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls are more or less annual, while there is an outside chance of rarities such as Pallid Harrier or Rough-legged Buzzard. The area hosts good flora and butterfly sites as well. A Large Tortoiseshell was found near North Stoke in 2017, while going further back mammoth remains were found at Peppering in 1821.
Amberley and its chalk excavations passed, the path diverges from the river, leaving the option of directly crossing Amberley Wild Brooks or skirting it to the south and east via Rackham Plantation. With few tracks and sometimes impassable in winter, Amberley Wild Brooks always offers the possibility of something exceptional, such as the White-tailed Eagle seen in 2010 or the American Bittern shot there in the 1880s.
To the north of Amberley Wild Brooks, Waltham Brooks Nature Reserve is immediately west of Greatham Bridge while the RSPB’s Pulborough Brooks (rspb.org.uk) reserve beckons to the northeast. Waltham Brooks should not be discounted, but Pulborough’s size and combination of wetland, heathland and woodland habitats, and its long and growing list of rarities, makes it a fitting terminus to the journey.
Arun Valley total list at May 2019: 288
Arun Valley list in 2018: 195
Starting from the coast and travelling north, the Climping Gap and surrounding area runs west from the river mouth to Atherington and beyond. The patchwork of farmland, wood, dunes and shingle is worked by a dedicated band of watchers who have amassed a bird list of 265, including many rarities. For current sightings and further information see The Birds of Climping Gap and Lower Arun Valley site (climpingbirds.blogspot.co.uk).
Following the river north from Littlehampton to Ford and on to Arundel involves moving into feast or famine territory. The river, water meadows and hedgerows at times appear birdless. But no visit is entirely wasted. My own list for the Ford to Arundel stretch stands at 154, although the number of visits and the hours spent in the field is considerably bigger…
To the north of Arundel the river meets the Millstream, a short but often fruitful walk. It lies just south of Swanbourne Lake and the Wetland Centre (wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/arundel). Both are worth a look, with the former having recorded Ring-necked Duck and Spotted Sandpiper, and the latter having hosted Little Crake and Spotted Crake. Beyond them is the Black Rabbit, from which vantage point owls and harriers may at times be seen in winter.
Heading north the valley narrows and the river path passes Offham, where Bewick’s Swans can winter. To the east Burpham and North Stoke give access to the Burgh and its roster of downland birds and raptors. Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls are more or less annual, while there is an outside chance of rarities such as Pallid Harrier or Rough-legged Buzzard. The area hosts good flora and butterfly sites as well. A Large Tortoiseshell was found near North Stoke in 2017, while going further back mammoth remains were found at Peppering in 1821.
Amberley and its chalk excavations passed, the path diverges from the river, leaving the option of directly crossing Amberley Wild Brooks or skirting it to the south and east via Rackham Plantation. With few tracks and sometimes impassable in winter, Amberley Wild Brooks always offers the possibility of something exceptional, such as the White-tailed Eagle seen in 2010 or the American Bittern shot there in the 1880s.
To the north of Amberley Wild Brooks, Waltham Brooks Nature Reserve is immediately west of Greatham Bridge while the RSPB’s Pulborough Brooks (rspb.org.uk) reserve beckons to the northeast. Waltham Brooks should not be discounted, but Pulborough’s size and combination of wetland, heathland and woodland habitats, and its long and growing list of rarities, makes it a fitting terminus to the journey.
Arun Valley total list at May 2019: 288
Arun Valley list in 2018: 195
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