Saturday, September 02, 2006

Saturday 2nd September


No ride this morning, but we (Bristol Morris Men) danced at a village fete in Chew Stoke just south of Bristol. En route I saw a peregrine swooping over the Gorge and the bottom of Bridge Valley Road: the silhouette is unmistakeable. At the fete we saw an amazing display of falconry, by Michael Davie of Churchdown Gloucester. In a small arena, surrounded by many large trees, his Lanner falcons (pictured), a Harris Hawk, and an Arabian owl entranced his audience with their flight.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Friday 1st September

Later this am, I left the peregrine watch at 9.50. Occasional light drizzle on the wind, but also sunshine through grey clouds. The Avon Gorge was very quiet, with only gulls, a few jackdaws, and pigeons. As usual the pigeons were scuttling around, they fly over the river and into the trees in Leigh Woods, and up and down the gorge, always fast and as if they are being chased! I have seen a peregrine chase a jackdaw, and another try to attack a gull, but never seen a pigeon taken. The jackdaw tree was mostly empty, but a noisy group came in just after I arrived. However no peregrine this morning.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Thursday 31st August

A rather grey day today, but with a warm wind comming down Circular Road (Leading to Sea Walls). Lots of jackdaws prodding around on the football pitches. I was earlier this morning, getting to the jackdaw tree around 8.20am. A peregrine left the cliff underneath, flew across the gorge to the cliff on the other side, then flew over the trees in the gorge, finally disappearing over the woods above Nightingale Valley. I was only there for about five minutes, so was lucky to see the bird. Not many other birds apart from a few jackdaws (in their tree!), and the usual sea gulls.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Wednesday 30th August

9am start. At the Avon Gorge the tide was about half-way, with only a mild breeze onto the Downs. A really beautiful morning! At the Perigrine Watch a couple of magpies had invaded the jackdaw tree and were squabbling with the usual occupants; I don't usually see any magpies in the tree, crows yes. On the end of the Downs the usual flock of rooks and some gulls were prodding around. At the watch a peregrine flew rapidly into the cliff underneath (You need to stand right up against the cliff to see these birds since they fly in quite low to roost on the cliff). The next peregrine I saw (I don'nt think it was the same one, but it could have been, was on the other side of the gorge, ducking in and out of the tree tops. I guess he/she was trying to flush out some of the birds, usually pigeons, who sit in the tree tops. I have seen the peregrines do this before. This bird flew on down the gorge towards the Bristol suspensions bridge (Brunel's), where it seemed to be met by another peregrine - they chased each other and I lost sight of them.