Sussex Scrapbook -
Nature walks throughout the year
Saturday 29th
November 2008
Amberley - The Burgh - North Stoke - Amberley
6.5 miles
With Gill ill in bed, I
made off by myself to Amberley by bike in horrible conditions. It was freezing
cold, drizzly and foggy and by the time I'd reached the top of the downs I
thought I'd made a big mistake as I couldn't see anything! There was no view at
all today from Rackham Hill and I only took a very few photos.
On reaching The Burgh the visibility had improved a little but the temperature
had dropped even more. I was hoping to spot a Hen Harrier up there or even some
Short-eared Owls, but I had to make do with a couple of ravens, a sparrowhawk,
lots of fieldfares and several kestrels. Just south of there I had a stoat run
across the path about 4 metres ahead of me and disappear into the brambles.
On top of the downs the mist was very thick but it slowly cleared
The view down the "Steps of Insanity" at what we call Raptor Gorge, near The
Burgh.
.JPG)
The wooded area beside the steps has recently been cleared and coppiced.
The very pale buzzard that has lived here for several years was very evident
today