Short birdwatching visit · South East Water
Arlington Reservoir
- Tier
- Worth a special trip
- Best season
- Winter wildfowl flocks; occasional spring and autumn Osprey
- Headline birds
- Wigeon · Shoveler · Osprey
- Parking
- A public car park is provided; payment is contactless only.
- Hides
- A public bird hide lies on the three-kilometre Osprey walking trail.
- Step-free
- Not stated by the operator
Berwick, near Polegate
Arlington Reservoir is a Local Nature Reserve with a circular public trail, bird hide and patches of meadow and coppiced woodland. The Sussex Ornithological Society’s 2021 report records Wigeon and Great Crested Grebe here; its September 2026 walk also recorded feeding Sand Martins. South East Water’s current visitor page identifies the reservoir as a winter wildfowl refuge. The three-kilometre Osprey trail provides the main public walking route and passes the hide. This is a working drinking-water reservoir, so a birding visit must stay on the permitted footpath and bridleway rather than approach the water freely.
When to go and where to look
Winter is Arlington’s clearest special-trip season: South East Water describes thousands of overwintering birds, including Wigeon and Shoveler. Use the public circular footpath and bird hide to scan the reservoir without approaching the water freely. Osprey is an occasional visitor on spring and autumn migration, so neither the trail’s name nor a previous record promises an appearance. The meadows and coppiced woodland add another habitat to explore on the permitted route. Allow time for the three-kilometre circuit and check the current visitor arrangements before setting out. This remains a working drinking-water reservoir, with access and dog restrictions protecting wildlife and water quality.
Sources: South East Water: official LNR visitor access and parking. Planning reviewed 2026-10-27.
Birds and seasons
- Wigeon · Headline bird — Winter Source for Wigeon
- Shoveler · Headline bird — Winter Source for Shoveler
- Osprey · Headline bird — Occasional spring and autumn passage Source for Osprey
- Nightingale — Season not stated by the operator Source for Nightingale
- Sand Martin — September 2026 passage record Source for Sand Martin
- Great Crested Grebe — Season not stated by source Source for Great Crested Grebe
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- A public bird hide lies on the three-kilometre Osprey walking trail.
- Paths
- Keep to the circular footpath and bridleway. Swimming, barbecues, drones and cycling on public footpaths are prohibited.
- Toilets
- The operator lists toilets and a food kiosk among the visitor facilities.
- Parking
- A public car park is provided; payment is contactless only.
- Dogs
- Dogs are welcome on leads at all times.
- Access notes
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Step-free access
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
Getting there: The reservoir is north of the A27 Drusillas roundabout, signposted towards Berwick Station and Upper Dicker. The pin uses the operator’s precise public-car-park grid reference; the general postcode covers a wider area.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- Seaford Head Nature Reserve · 6.1 straight-line miles
- Old Lodge · 14.8 straight-line miles
- Filsham Reedbed · 15.3 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Pulborough Brooks, 29.4 miles away in a straight line.
- Mount Caburn · 5.3 miles in a straight line
- Seaford Head Nature Reserve · 6.1 miles in a straight line
- Castle Hill National Nature Reserve · 10.7 miles in a straight line