We're quite used to floods delivering all sorts of assorted rubbish/debris/flotsam to us, but a measure of the extent of the flooding in the Arun valley in recent days could be found on the 'tide line' on the north brooks this morning: hundreds, if not thousands, of turnips. Suprising and more than a touch surreal,  they've been washed out of nearby arable land and no doubt represent a significan loss to the farmer…

...but I'm still looking. The huge area of flood water in the valley has spread the wildfowl out and the recent storms have brought in a fair number of gulls to feed on whatever the floods have washed up, but I've yet to locate anything highly pelagic on site, although a single brent goose was seen today. Please note that Winpenny hide and Nettley's remain out of bounds due to flooding, and water levels are rising again…

Quick summary of the current situation - the nature trail is flooded around Winpenny hide, Nettley's hide will be inaccessible later today due to rising floodwaters and Fattengates courtyard is closed due to fallen trees, but the rest of the trails/hides/viewpoints remain passable. Yesterday's heavy rain is now causing the Arun to overtop the flood defence banks again, so it is unlikely Winpenny hide will be open for…

Despite the weather, I’ve entered into the spirit of things and shared in the New Year’s Day tradition of starting a bird list for the year. I have to admit though that all of the birds on my list thus far have been ones I have spotted whilst lurking within the confines of the visitor centre. Still, it’s not a bad start; 29 species including buzzard, nuthatch, fieldfare and marsh tit. There are a few ducks on the list…

The nature trail is still flooded between west mead hide (open) and winpenny hide (not open!). Nettley's hide is accessible today (Mon 30th), along with Jupp's view.

Please be aware that the flood level may go up or down in the next few days, so this situation may change, particularly with regards the accessibility of Nettley's hide. We will re-open the flooded sections of the trail as soon as we can, but there…

We were unable to open the Visitor Centre on Christmas Eve or the 27th December due to no electricity, much to our disappointment and the disappointment of the people who made the effort to visit us. The reserve was open but care was needed due to fallen trees and very high water levels that left some of our nature trail under water. The good news for us and I am sure to the relief of our neighbours that power is restored…

Amberley wildbrooks yesterday (see above) looked very watery with flocks of wigeon, teal, shoveler, pintail, greylag geese and Canada geese spread out across the site. The young marsh harrier that has so far spent all winter in the valley was hunting over the eastern side at about 11.30.

In atrocious conditions today, Pulborough Brooks looked even wetter, with wildfowl hidden away in the sheltered edges of the wind-lashed…

The brooks are rapidly filling up with water and birds - nothing like a bit of weather to bring some changes. Today there were ca.100 pintail and 80 black-tailed godwits on the north brooks, plus hundreds of teal, wigeon, shoveler, mallard and lapwings all over the site. Five or six ruff (maybe more, rather mobile!) could also be found and a mixed flock of ca.120 common and black-headed gulls were present at 10.30. The birds…

Now you probably all thought that I'd have stopped talking about fungi by now, but the wet and mild weather we've been experiencing seems to have prompted the appearance of our weird and wonderful earth star fungi.

These are collared earthstars.  They start off looking like bulbs, before they split open to reveal their star shape with a bag (or stomach)  full of spores in the centre.  As the spores mature the…

Just a quickie  to let you know about our opening times over the festive period:

Tuesday 24 Dec Christmas Eve - the visitor centre will shut at 3.30 pm.

Wednesday 25 Dec Christmas Day - the visitor centre, nature trails and car park will be closed.

Thursday 26 Dec Boxing Day - the visitor centre will be closed. Nature trails and car park are open.

On all other days (including New Year's Day) we will be open as normal…

If you’ve got excited children or grandchildren to keep occupied this weekend, then come along to our winter wildlife watch and Christmas craft day on Sunday (22 December).

We’ll head out on some short walks for little legs to spot some wonderful wintery wildlife and back in the cosy visitor centre we’ll have some great activities too.

Our face painting team can transform you into a reindeer, snow…

If you manage to see through the fog that has been hanging around the Arun valley over the past day or so, you could be rewarded with views of plenty of winter birds.  If the fog fails to clear you'll have to bird by ear instead, listening out for the 'chack-chack-chack' of fieldfare, the whistling of wigeon and the honking of Canada Geese.

On Tuesday, our resident peregrine had a bit of a run in with the…

A little message from Trevor, our shop manager:

"Okay so so far you have been putting off your Christmas shopping. Now instead of worrying you get to feel really smug as our Christmas cards and gifts as well as loads of other great stuff has all been reduced in our winter sale starting now! Just remember to take the price stickers off though!"

Here's just a small selection of some of the lovely things included…

Old oak trees are a feature of the site here, and are very important ecologically, as well as being just awe-inspiringly massive, beautiful and wondrous. They mostly inhabit a world that moves very slowly, but occasionally things happen to them very quickly. This tree, which is by my reckoning perhaps 250-300 years old, shed a large limb in the summer of 2008, and was comprehensively finished off by the big storm of 28th 

…

As well as the brilliant nature reserve and excellent cafe we now have all our calendars in the shop at 50% off!

Have a walk and catch up with your Christmas present shopping at the same time.

A lovely range of wintery wildlife can be found around the nature trails at the moment - although I suspect all the little birds are in hiding today with all the wind!  Out on the brooks themselves look for lapwing, snipe, black-tailed godwit and dunlin amongst the plentiful wigeon and teal and the handsome shoveler and pintail. Sightings of the peregrine and marsh harrier occur most days. We’re getting great views of…

Not real ones but these Racing Penguin Crackers are our best sellers and the best fun every Christmas.

 Each cracker contains a crazy wind-up penguin to race (track supplied) and the penguins come with different coloured scarves to help avoid any arguments. Hours of fun as you digest your Christmas lunch! Candy sticks not included.

 Available at Pulborough Brooks and each set is now only £9.99. Follow the link to see…

A huge flock of fieldfares were present around west mead early this afternoon - somewhere between 300-400 were present, along with small numbers of redwings and blackbirds. Several bullfinches feeding in the hedges alongside the zigzags, about 20 redpolls noted on the edge of the heath and a raven flew south.

Talking of huge numbers - ca.1200 wigeon and ca.350 Canada geese made an impressive sight and sound on the…

Our full range of binoculars and telescopes are being demonstrated this weekend and they make a lasting gift to give or even to give yourself! Free expert help from a representative from one or our manufacturers who will be available to answer any questions. Come along and get real, no obligation,  hands on experience and advice.

We can get your binoculars all set up ready for you and to take out onto the nature trail…

Join us this weekend (Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 November) for our winter wildlife watch and Christmas shopping event.

Venture out with our guides on a winter wildlife watch, seeking out ducks, geese & wading birds.  If we're lucky, our peregrine falcon will be out and about creating havoc as she hunts for her dinner.

Back in the cosy visitor centre we'll warm you up with hot ginger wine ( non-alcoholic), we…

Following on from the first of my weekly wildlife challenges last week, there has certainly been a significant arrival of fieldfare with several hundred being reported in groups of varying sizes around the reserve yesterday.  I had lovely views of a group of 30 or so perched in the hedgerow close to West Mead hide, before they took off with a flash of silvery underwings and chack -chack- chack calls.

In front of West…

Had a brief walk around the heathland restoration area early this morning. Not much of note on the heath itself, but a clear(ish) sky meant there were plenty birds moving above it- about 200 wood piegons flew south, and several flocks of fieldfares and redwings flew west or dropped into the black wood, and a few skylarks and redpolls were noted going in various directions. 

The brooks are now looking very good - lots of lapwings…

Those of you who have visited us over the last few months will no doubt have noticed the large block of Portland stone that stands beside the entrance track.  Well, this isn't just any old lump of stone...its being carved on site by sculptor, Jon Edgar, and I popped out yesterday to chat to Jon and see what kind of shapes were emerging.

Jon gave me a little background on how he works...

He's an improviser. His…

Many of you will remember that one of our star birds throughout last winter was the water rail, nicknamed Wally, who would appear in front of the visitor centre window almost to order with the bribe of a handful of mealworms. As he arrived late in October last year (for the second year running) we’re all eagerly awaiting his return. Staff and volunteers have even entered a friendly sweepstake competition predicting his…

A jack snipe or two have been showing intermittently from Nettley's hide this week - see Gary's photo was taken on tuesday. A few common snipe have also been using the same area, either providing useful comparitive views or simply confusing the issue, depending on your point of view. Tip - jack snipe are smaller, shorter billed and even more secretive than common snipe, but often have a peculiar 'personal trampoline…