Info required on Sussex birding spots

[jforgham]

Hi to all,
I am travelling from East Herts this coming Friday, taking my car to a specialist garage in Partridge Green, not too far from Horsham. The work will take most of the day so I plan to spend the day birding. Any advice on hotspots or hints at what can be found around. Possibly Pulborough Brooks or Cuckmere Haven. I shall be using public transport, buses from Partidge Green seem regular enough, plus possibility of train from Horsham.
Any ideas, comments etc gratefully received.
many thanks
Jono

[joannec]

Hi Jono

The nearest good place to Horsham is The Warnham Nature Reserve. It's not a place I know well but have a look at this website:

http://www.horsham.gov.uk/leisure_and_tourism/leisure_320.asp

I think Cuckmere Haven would be pretty hard to get to by public transport from Horsham but Pulborough Brooks more doable. It might even be on the same rail line as Horsham. Nightingales there now.

Also have a look at the Sussex OS website. Click on "recent sightings".

www.sos.org.uk

Joanne

[jforgham]

Hi Joanne,
Thanks for the suggestions. Bus from Partridge Green gets me to Brighton in less than an hour but I will need to find buses from there east to Cuckmere, which I have visited once before some 3 years ago or so. Warnham NR looks worthy of a visit. Shall keep my options open and uses SOS site just incase something good turns up over the next few days.
Many thanks,
Jono

[joannec]

There is a bus from Brighton to CH, it's the No 12 to Eastbourne service, but I think it takes about an hour too......you could end up spending the whole day on busses.:eek!:

[deborah4]

Hi Jono

Warnham is a nice compact reserve - mixed woodland, reed bed, lake, heathland. It's a quiet reserve. I'll be up there again tomorrow, so will let you know what's around at the moment. It's about 20 minutes walk from Horsham train station, along the Warnham Road.

The bus from Brighton to the Visitor's Centre at Cuckmere Haven takes about 50 mins from Churchill Square (12) or from Brighton Station if before 8.30 am.

Alternatively, you could get the no. 101 Compass Travel bus from Horsham to Pulborough and then walk to Pulborough Brooks RSPB from there. Bus leaves Horsham at 9.22 then hourly. Arrives Pulborough at 10.07am. I'd recommend getting the train from Horsham to Pulborough - just over quarter of an hour's journey and more time for birding!

At Pulborough: Usual warblers, Woodpeckers, possible Peregrine, breeding Lapwing, Shelduck, a small diversity of waders with the occasional interesting one dropping in. Usual passerines including: Nightingale. At Wiggonholt just up the road: Nightjar, Woodlark

Tbh. I'd not bother with Cuckmere - it's a long way and you'll see more at either Warnham or Pulborough - however, if you do Cuckmere, it's probably better to get the train from Horsham, change at Gatwick Airport, then Lewes. (takes about an hour and half)

[pe'rigin]

Jono,


If you are at Partridge Green, you have the disused railway track which goes from Guildford to Shoreham. It's used as walking and cycling route. It's a nice walk, you'll pick up all sorts of differing species on the way.

[jforgham]

Thanks to all for the advice. See what the weather brings on Friday and shall post a report upon my return.
best regards,
Jono

[Zenzero]

It's a 3 mile walk from Pulboro station to the RSPB.
But there's a bus goes from the station past the RSPB (Compass 100) every hour

http://www.compass-travel.co.uk/timetables.html