Birdie Time

When you are birding,especially if you are doing a list for any reason,a day list, a trip list or even a life list, there is an old saying all "ticks" are equal.

I have to say some are more equal than others and near the top for me is the fabulous Peregrine.

This is an adult, with horizontal bars across the breast, and I think this si the male.

A loud honking about alerted me to a Raven over head, and as it flew over the fields it also alterted a group of Carrion Crows perched in the Empty Wood.

The flew out to challenge their larger relative and continued to escort it away from their presumed property.

They ended up flying up the hill that marks the fairway of the par five hle no 8 on the Kingsdown nnd Walmer Golf course.

It is a long uphill hole, and although I don't play this game, it seems like an expensive way to spoil a good walk, from what I have seem there seem to be very few birdies associated with this hole.

Cold dry Westerly Wind!

Most of the time I spend out and about in the area is on the Bockhill side of the bay. This is not because the area of South Foreland Valley and Langdon Cliffs is uninteresting but mainly because the area is more accessible from the house and the layout makes it easier to work.

The walk from the lighthouse to the White Cliffs car park is one of the most stunning in the area. The cliffs are very high and are perhaps the most iconic landmark in the country.  Today the wind, about 14 mph  SSW was surprisingly cold. I seem to remember learning about Warm, wet.westerly winds in winter. It was neither wet or warm this afternoon.

As you get to Langdon Hole Dover Harbour dominates the distant coast line.  High on the right, one of the entrances to the underground tunnels is visible.

As I walked along the deep resonant honk floated up and alerted me a minute or so later two Ravens drifted past. It is amazing that they are now a familiar part of the cliff walk experience,consdering they have only been back in Kent for around 9 years after an 110 year absence.