Wetlands electric boat safari allows you to get close to wildfowl and voles
By Sally Pavey | If you would like Sally Pavey to attend your social event then please email wsgazettesocial@gmail.com
Awet Saturday at the wetlands in Arundel did not put the dampeners on a day watching birds feeding on the waters edge among the meadows of Arundel. Not content with standing shore side watching the ducks diving as you feed them, you can embark on learning to drive an electric powered boat that can take eight to 10 people for trips about the waterways. This is the wetlands safari; the electric powered boat being quiet allows you to get up close with wildfowl wading, the voles swimming and kingfishers waiting a catch.
Boat trips carry a suggested donation of £1 and run from 11am to 3.30pm, each trip lasting 15-30 minutes with the driver acting as a guide as well to what to spot.
Alternatively, you can stroll the gentle pathways to quiet spots to watch Sussex wildlife. Stunning views from the café make it perfect for relaxing, and kids will love the play areas and pond dipping.
Typical Arun River birdlife includes the teal duck given its name due to the blue-green of its feathers; Pochard duck a medium sized duck, the male being very distinctive with a brown head and two tone grey body; lapwings, a wader with its curly crown hat, whose comings and goings mark the arrival of cold and spring seasons; shelducks are distinctive with brown and white body markings; and Gadwall duck, that is a little smaller than the common mallard duck, has very grey plumage and black bottom feathers.
Around 3pm to 4pm currently birds fly in to roost. Unusual species for this time of year are being seen in Arundel which might be because of the topsy, turvy weather we are experiencing.
Twelve marsh herons have been sighted, like a bird of prey they have been flying in each night to roost. Grey herons, white egrets with long black legs and fluffy white feathers, as well as the cattle egrets have been spotted more recently. With lots of mute swans being seen which might suggest that the weather is rather cold in their usual habitat of Siberia this time of year.
You can hire binoculars from the shop and watch birds on the water through the picturesque windows of the warm café for an hour for free.
This Saturday (January 19) sees the night owl evening roost event until 5.30pm; with early birds golden hour on the 26th and 27th and Nest Box Know-how on Sunday February 10 from 10am4pm. Come February half-term families are invited to take part in the biggest splash ‘spashometer’ with the puddle jumping championships.
If, like us, you fancy a wander up the Arundel High Street you must pay a visit to a cute shop, Dinky Donkey Delights, full of wonderful locally painted ceramics, artefacts and gifts for animal lovers of dogs, cats, donkeys, chickens, the list goes on.
And once you’ve roamed through the curiosity shops and spending is complete, indulge in an afternoon tea at the 16th Century Belinda’s Tearoom which has apparently been known for more than half a century for traditional cooking; a combination of dark beams, warming fire, teapots and scones with jam and clotted cream!