FOLKESTONE HARBOUR
Coastal walk overlooking the English Channel
The coastal strip either side of Folkestone provides spectacular views across the busy shipping lanes of the English Channel and East Wear Bay. Habitats include a country park, woodland and scrub, rocky foreshore, the harbour, and two potential seawatching promontories. Nearby Copt Point is one of the best locations in the region for observing Mediterranean Gulls, that can number in the hundreds, while there is always the prospect of finding something rarer in their midst, such as a Purple Sandpiper or maybe a Great Northern Diver on the bay.
WHERE TO WATCH 1
At low tide, check around the harbour for waders such as Redshank, Oystercatcher and Turnstone foraging in the seaweed, plus the occasional Grey Heron or Little Egret, and rarer still, usually in a freeze-up, Kingfisher. Grey and Pied Wagtails, and sometimes a Rock Pipit, can be found here, while a Snow Bunting was noted recently. Numerous Herring, Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls should be checked for a wintering Caspian or Yellowlegged Gull. Along the harbour arm, Guillemot and Razorbill often take shelter in the bay, along with Red-throated Diver, while perched Cormorants should be scrutinised for a wintering Shag. From the lighthouse, seabirds can often be seen moving through the Channel; typically, Gannet, auks and Kittiwake. A good spot for observing Harbour Porpoises, Common and Grey Seals.
2
On an ebb tide, the low, rocky outcrop at Copt Point attracts hundreds of loafing gulls, including Black-headed, Common and Herring but mostly Mediterranean Gulls, many of which will have colour rings from studies across continental Europe. Carefully check through the massed ranks for the likes of Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls, Kittiwake or even the occasional Little Gull, plus waders such as Turnstone, Redshank and Oystercatcher. At high tide, Med Gulls can be found on rooftops along Wear Bay Road and on adjacent playing fields, where in cold weather Redwing and Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Sky Lark are also likely, and in extreme weather Lapwings and Golden Plovers. Check along the cliffs for Peregrine, Raven and maybe a Fulmar prospecting for a nesting ledge. Scrub can attract tits, finches and Stonechat.
3
The Lower Leas Coastal Park supports a range of woodland birds, including Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Jay, Treecreeper, Long-tailed and Coal Tits, Bullfinch and Goldcrest. The occasional Chiffchaff and Blackcap winter here, while Firecrest are often noted in early spring, along with one or two Wheatears and Black Redstarts from the promenade and on the beach huts.
4
Check around the sea defence blocks for Turnstone and an outside chance of a Purple Sandpiper. Pied and Grey Wagtails, Meadow and Rock Pipits are sometimes found along the weedy strandline, along with the occasional Redshank or Ringed Plover. Mill Point is a noted vantage point for a seawatch, particularly on a south to south-easterly blow, when passing seabirds such as Red-throated Diver, Brent Goose, Common Scoter, Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwake may be on offer, plus migrating wildfowl, waders, terns, auks, gulls and skuas during spring.