Outdoor Meeting – Sunday 29th April 2007

Dover and St Margaret's

Disappointingly, despite the unexpected overcast conditions with chilly NE breeze and rain on the trip down, plus the recent earthquake, not a single member of the KOS turned out today to walk along the tops of the chalk cliffs at Dover. No sense of adventure! Fortunately a sturdy friend turned up and together we went forth in search of some earth shattering rarities. Alas the earth didn't move and we saw no rarities! (apologies to anyone reading who was affected by the events of yesterday).

Needless to say the weather conditions changed and the sweatshirt and over-jacket were rather uncomfortable when we returned under clear blue skies in bright sunshine! (trip from 10.00 - 14.00).

Highlights were fine views of male Peregrine perched on the cliffs; a male Marsh Harrier N over St Margarets; a Nightingale singing at Fan Bay, just a few yards from the white cliffs of Dover - something quintessentially English there! (plus another singing in St.M valley); good views of several Fulmars attempting to land close on the cliffs; a pair of Stonechats at Fan Bay; 3-4 singing male Yellowhammers and Linnets, lots of Whitethroats & a few Lesser Whitethroats; several Early Spider Orchids; a patch of Bluebells on the edge of the cliffs; an early Small Heath butterfly and lots of good fresh air! Not so good was the quiet cliffs and lack of Kittiwakes.......none on the cliffs at all and just a small party of 11 seen sitting on the sea wondering what to do. The situation there looks pretty grim..

Murray Orchard