Monday 14th May & Tuesday 15th May

Monday. What a contrast! The Gorge was glorious this morning, sun and clouds with a warm wind blowing the cloud shadows up the river. The rooks and crows were all out on the Downs probing the still wet grassland. The raven's nest is deserted now, just a pile of sticks. I did not see the peregrines, but guess that there may be a nest on the cliff beneath.

Tuesday. No ride this morning, but I walked into town, then on via the Merchants Arms in Hotwells for a pint and pork pie. Then on up the Gorge beside the river. Lots of herring gulls and the odd lesser black backed gull, the tide was very low. I stopped underneath the peregrine watch - and was rewarded by the peregrine pair flying around in front of their nest. It is quite difficult to spot them landing since they move so fast and blend in with the cliff for their approach run. I crossed the road and climbed in onto a small tarmac area under the cliffs. Looks like some road remains. This brings you right up under the nest. One of the birds came in and settled on the cliff about 10 meters down the cliff and to the left. I could see its head very clearly, even without binoculars, it took off, circled above me warily, and flew away. I guess they may not be so used to people on the ground below, so I beat a retreat. The camera cable leading down towards the nest is very obvious from below. My walk took me on to the small valley (Walcoombe?) just before Sea Walls, and yes, there is a path to the top of the Downs, it is marked on the map at the top of Sea Walls cliff. Then home.

Sunday May 13th

We have been away for a week and a half, on holiday at the caravan site in Durdle Door on the Dorset coast. Along the cliffs there were few sea birds, however I did spot a peregrine rushing along, otherwise several shags - much smaller than the cormorant, and some herring and other gulls. The campsite has a large overhead rookery in the pines which give the site some shelter. Skylarks, swallows and swifts, pied wagtail and robins, and stonechats on the bushes near the cliffs. Swanage had a pretty colony of black headed gulls.

Today was wet and got wetter as I cycled, so that by the time I arrived home I was drenched to the skin. Not nice for cycling. The gorge was not a place to linger this morning.