There was one last option, which I chose in the end, a place in Sussex known as The Burgh. It's a vast area of farmland, fields and rolling hills that is a brilliant habitat for all sorts. There were a total of three things there I could see that would be new to my year and life list- Hen Harrier, Grey Partridge, and Corn Bunting. While not all that usual, all these species are on the more common side of things. The Hen Harriers had been seen at the nearby Arundel WWT and here over the past few weeks, and they were really my main target of the day. The Grey Partridges were right up there as well, though, as the nearest place reliable for them nearby that I know of is Martin Down, which is completely the wrong part of Hampshire for where we live...
The journey didn't look bad: train to Arundel, and according to Google, a 15-25 minute bike ride along "moderate hills."
Long story short, I arrived at the place completely out of breath and exhausted. Those "moderate hills" were some of the worst upward hills I've come across- long, extremely steep, and relentless. There were three very nice long steep downhills, though. They came back to haunt me later....
I started along the path, and immediately obvious were a large group of Linnets, some Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, and a Red Kite.
You could see all the way to the sea- really stunning.
It seemed as though the path was lined with large hedges on both sides most of the way, which restricted views, but there were gates and gaps in the hedges to view the vast sprawling fields.
After a while of looking around and biking along the path, with no sign of anything interesting, I started to wonder if it had been the right decision to come here instead of trying the Red-necked Grebe. I came up to another of the gates and, accidentally, noisily put my bike down. Just in front of the hedge on my right, close up, a group of nearly 10 birds were spooked by my clumsiness and flew up. Immediately, my heart was racing. Grey Partridge-sized birds. Possibly Grey Partridge sounding birds.... But I couldn't be certain yet. The lighting was awful, and I couldn't see any colouration. On the left side of the path as you go down it, there's about a 10-meter gap between the fence and the hedge. Luckily, the birds flew right there. I frantically tried to adjust my camera settings, and watched in horror as one by one, they started sidling through the hedge into the field on the opposite side- completely out of view. By the time I was in a position to photograph them, and with settings adjusted, just two were remaining in the queue to make it to the field. I took a photo. Ouch.
The camera had focused on the fence. Tantalisingly, I could see the last bird walking through the bush with my binoculars, but with no light, I still couldn't be certain of its ID. I would have easily been able to get photos pretty close up if I hadn't dropped my bike, which kinda made the whole situation a bit more frustrating.
The birds started to walk along, as I could tell by their calls. I wasn't completely sure of Grey Partridge calls, so I was still no more in the know of the bird's ID than before.
A Goldfinch then landed on the hedge, gave me a quick accusing look as if to say, "Shouldn't have been so clumsy with your bike huh," and immediately flew off.
I'm really hoping I get to ID these birds at this point. As I've mentioned previously, Grey Partridges are very difficult to see anywhere close to home, so it would be an incredible lifer and year-tick.
Then, crucially, I hear a flap of wings. A bird flies up. The tops of the bushes are much less thick than the bottom. The bird flies just high enough to see it well through binos. Yes, yes, yes and yes. Every box gets ticked. This was a Grey Partridge. The grey body with red splashes, I had no doubt now. Number 202 on my year list, and 210 on my British life list. Incredible bird. I was buzzing. I say that a lot, but it's the best word to describe that feeling after seeing such a cool and new bird.
It landed just in view with the binoculars, but I had no chance of focusing my camera through such thick bushes. Oh well.
It seemed as though there would be no chance of getting photographs of them, so I continued along the path, hoping I might have another shot at photographing them.
The birds were just behind these hedges, tantalisingly close.
A Robin was on the path, and the flock of Linnets flew through, always distant and hardly perching, making it difficult to see if anything else was amongst them, and a Dunnock called from a bush.
I came to a 3-way junction, with a path leading down to my left with a gate right next to it, the path leading back the way I had just come, and the path leading forward. I decided to see if I could see anything from the gate, as it seemingly looked over a field.
Bingo.
There, in a little side part of the field, walking along were the Grey Partridges. They were relatively close, but the lighting was awful. Most importantly, though, I got photos. What incredible birds!
They started trundling towards me at a great speed... trundling is the perfect word to describe the way they walk.
Although they had come closer, the lighting wasn't any better, and the photos were still very grainy, but I didn't mind much; I was just so happy to have gotten some shots.
Grey Partridges are in a worryingly fast decline in the UK. Once a common sight, they are now quite scarce, hence why I've never seen them before and was so pleased to see them. The reason for their decline is a lack of suitable habitat, caused by the farming industry changes not suiting their needs. This area provides vast fields of their preferred habitat, hence why they are found here, dotted around in their small coveys.
The birds continued coming closer, so I was able to get some ok shots before they disappeared into the bushes again.
A shape deep in some brush turned out to be a Brown Hare. It stayed hidden for a while before running out into the open away from me, then doing a complete turn and running back a bit of the way and then prancing into the brush again.
I might still be able to get better photos in the next week and a half, but these are my best so far. They're not too bad all things considered.... :) iykyk
I continued along the path before taking a left to do the loop.
Still no sign of any Hen Harriers, though.
I searched, and searched, and searched and searched with no luck.
No less than three times, brief views of Red Kites and Buzzards had my heart pounding for a split second before I clocked what they really were.
A Kestrel was perched, before it flew off to annoy a Buzzard.
I made it to a place where you can look out over the valley. I took a zoomed-in shot so you can see Arundel Castle on the right. And Google thinks that takes about 25 minutes. Pfft.
I stood there for ages waiting, hoping for a harrier to pop up. But none did. My train back to Petersfield was at 12:02, and the time was about 10:00. There was still about an hour till I needed to think about heading back, but time was running out fast. With no clue how long the journey back would take, I biked along the path as fast as I could go, stopping now and again when dark grey gulls in the distance took on the persona of a male Hen Harrier.
A very pale Common Buzzard perched on a pole had me interested for a second before I saw it properly enough to know it was a Buzzard.
I was back at the start of the 6km loop by now, and reckoned, if I went quickly, I could get all the way round it again before I needed to leave. Silly me.
At the first viewing point, I stopped and looked out over the field when a brown bird of prey caught my eye. It was quickly disappearing below the hill, and the millisecond view I did have sent my heart rate rocketing. "Surely that's it," were the words that came out of my mouth.
My view had been very brief, to say the least. I was not sure, but it seemed barred and possibly the right size. I watched, and watched, and watched, but it didn't resurface. I biked along to another place looking over the field, but didn't see anything, other than a Red Kite hunting in the same field I had seen the bird of prey. With literally no sign of anything other than the kite, I was beginning to lose hope that the bird I had seen was a harrier.
After another 20 or so minutes, there had been no sign. Surely if it had been one, it would have popped up somewhere by now. My views were so brief that it could well have been the kite I saw, but we will never know.
I decided to move on.
I heard some more Grey Partridges behind the hedges, and saw the Linnet flock a few more times. No sign of any Corn Buntings.
After making it to the left turn that takes you back around, I realised there was no way I would be able to make it all the way around the loop. There were quite a few Red Kites and Buzzards a bit along the path, so I decided to bike to them and spend the short rest of my time there, hoping a harrier would join them.
The Buzzards and Red Kites were good to watch, but there was no sign at all of the Hen Harriers. I had to go.
As I made it towards the start of the path, a slender grey bird perched on the top of a tree in bad lighting had me hoping, before it shifted slightly to show its true identity, of which pretty well sums up my search for the harriers.
I decided to leave my binos and camera on for the journey back because the whole way was good habitat for birds.
Some interesting birds in the field I saw near the farm, apparently Helmeted Guineafowl (???) Not sure at all, though.
Whatever they are, they're very cool.
As I was just getting into the journey, a small bird that perched on top of a branch caught my attention before it flew off to another bush. Surely, surely that was a bunting? The shape screamed bunting all over it. The bird went to the top of the bush. I zoomed in.
Again, my heart rate rocketed...
It was a bunting all right.
The problem?
Wrong type.
Grr.
I made it back to Arundel after making it safely up and down the "moderately" extremely steep hills, and with my train being delayed a few minutes, I had just enough time to bike into Arundel itself to get a hot drink. I was freezing. My hands were, at least. After taking an age to actually find the cafe, I put the bike right outside the door so I could make sure no one stole it while I wasn't looking, and ordered a Mocha. Boy are prices high nowadays. But, for once, it was actually kinda worth the high price tag. If I had had the money and time, I would have gotten lunch there. Because, if the Mocha was anything to go by, the food would have tasted amazing. The cafe is also right next to the river Arun and looks over it- very picturesque. Genuinely looked like a brilliant place. It's called The Edible Sandwiches Co., and I would really recommend a visit if you're in the area.
Immediately after I got out of the place with Mocha in hand, I realised the problem that should have been staring me in the face. My train was in about 8 minutes, and it was a 4-minute bike ride. If you're going quickly. Which just so happens to be very difficult if you're holding a Mocha in one hand.
So there I was, biking for all I was worth along the road, taking sips of my Mocha as I went.
I must have looked ridiculous.
I made it to the station with a good minute-and-a-half to spare. Good.
But I was on the wrong platform. The stairs were very steep. It also just so happens that pushing a heavy bike up and back down steep stairs with one hand, trying not to spill a costly and delicious drink, is very, very difficult.
It was like a comedy sketch.
After I had made it down the stairs just in time for the train, I thought the ordeal was over, before realising the large gap between the train and the platform. Getting onto a train with a Mocha in hand is difficult. I found out 5 minutes later that getting off a train with Mocha in hand is even harder.
Needless to say, I drank the full contents of my drink at Barnham well before my connection got in.
A brilliant trip, all in all. A lifer. No matter if I missed two other species, it doesn't change the fact of what I did see. A very cool and scarce species, which is a brilliant boost to my life and year list. With a week of school ahead, I don't know if I'll be able to get out anywhere. Who knows what might happen, though. I did, believe it or not, actually count up my World Year List, which is at 240 now- a pretty decent total I reckon, with the only birds outside of the UK seen during a 12-day holiday in southern Spain. Considering I only have public transport as a means of travel, and trips now and again with parents, I'm very pleased with where I'm at in the UK. This year has been so much better than I could ever have hoped for. And there's still a good month or so of birding left... I really have no idea how many I'll get in December... or in the rest of November. What a month it's been as well, 6 lifers and 9 year-ticks already, with a week still to come. Incredible. Really, really incredible. I'm still buzzing with the Grey Partridge, and although I may have missed the Hen Harriers and Corn Bunting, I'm sure there'll be another chance at some point. There isn't too much about, but as I mentioned before, I might be off to Netley at some point, and if time permits at some point I might head up to Staines, which would be great. I really enjoyed my last trip up there with the Black-necked Grebes. It's such a cool place.
Well, I've got to get ready for table tennis training now (my legs are still burning after the moderate bike ride ...), so I'm going to wrap up here.
Hope you're all having a great day and seeing cool birds
:-)
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