This week my Wednesday crew decided (after much debate) to go to St Margaret’s at Cliffe to the east of Dover. Although a little cold, it was bright and sunny.
The cliff top walk at St Margaret's
We began at the monument and our first sighting was a group of goldfinch feeding on surrounding seedheads. Wood pigeons, jackdaw, crow and robin were around, and we also saw several sparrowhawk. Both great tit and blue tit distracted our attention from any possible migrants, but were a delight to see. House martin and swallow were feeding above us – the last we’ll see until next year? Blackbirds and chaffinch gave out alarm calls as we wandered around the shrubby area.
We had a picnic lunch at St Margaret’s bay, then moved to the lighthouse area. Again we saw sparrowhawk, and also a kestrel. Flowers were the main attractions of the afternoon with yellow-wort, bright eye, and gall hunts amongst the bristly-ox-tongue seedheads.
Sunlight at St Margarets
A lovely day out by the sea, with fantastic scenery, if a little quiet on the bird front!