Friday 8th September

Later at the peregrine watch today - 9.50am, but not a peregrine in sight. Pigeons were flying as if they did not have a care, around the gorge and in and out of the trees over the river, so they felt safe today. A large flock of gulls was being carried rapidly downstream on the outgoing tide. I took a 'photo for a couple of Japanese tourists - them standing in front of the jackdaw tree.

Wednesday 6th September

High cloud and sunshine this morning, quite warm. The river current was taking floating gulls downstream quite fast, and a flock of jackdaws was in the air. I arrived at the Peregrine watch at 9.10am and stayed for a quarter hour. A peregrine took off from the cliff below me just after I arrived, flew over to Leigh Woods and briefly circled around the woods, then flew back to the cliff. Quite a large bird, so probably female. I heard a young peregrine calling just after this.

Tuesday 5th September

No ride today! What is the collective name for a dozen (or more) magpies? The rhyme only reaches ten, but this morning well over a dozen of the birds flew over Birchall Allotments whilst I was doing some weeding. I wouldn't have noticed except for the chattering racket they made.

One for sorrow, two for joy;
Three for a girl, four for a boy;
Five for silver, six for gold;
Seven for a secret, never to be told;
Eight for a wish, nine for a kiss;
Ten for a bird that's best to miss.