Friday, October 12th

A Peregrine landed just beside the Raven's nest, he sat facing the cliff, and as he moved his head from side to side there were glimpses of his mask-like face. The tide was fairly high but receding, and without much mud, so that there were few birds to see.

Thursday, October 11th

As I arrived at the Peregrine Watch fog came up from the estuary - so dense that Leigh Woods all but disappeared. However looking upwards, blue sky was visible! Only the Jackdaws were out today.

Wednesday, 10th October

There was a Redshank on the mud below Sea Walls, however, when I reached the Peregrine Watch a very large group of other birds were visible, sitting underneath the Sea Walls cliff on the mud. There must have been 80+ gulls, a couple of dozen Mallard, three Cormorants, and a Gray Heron sitting on the nearby wall. No feeding, just sitting, so what drew them all together, I do not know!

At Sea Walls one of the Ravens flew past, and on over to Snyed Park, it passed quite close to me. Until you see one of these up close, you don't quite realise how large and majestic they are. A while later I saw both Ravens cross back into Leigh Woods and come down among the trees near the quarry to the left. Something down in the wood must have attracted them, I hope, not another dead deer.

My bicycle is becoming - like me - rather stiff and suffering from old age. However I can buy a new bicycle, so I made a trip to Fred Baker on the way home, and ordered a new Dawes Discovery 501. Cycling should become a little easier next week.

Tuesday, 9th October

A very wet morning, so my ride was delayed until late afternoon. Just as I arrived at the Peregrine Watch - and spotted a Peregrine over in the 'banana tree' - the heavens opened. I saw it coming! I dodged in under one of the nearby Holme Oaks, and was joined by a couple of squirrels, and a jogger! A Crow immersed itself nearly completely in a large puddle at the side of the road, evidently enjoying a bath - and ridding itself of feather mites. I understand that Peregrines like a daily bath, but I have never seen this. Do they use the Avon? When I returned to the Watch after the rain passed, the Peregrine had also moved on.

Monday, October 8th

Two Redshank among the gulls this morning. Just as a large student party came up to the Peregrine watch ("limestone cliffs, tide going out, 49ft (?!) tidal range, Avonmouth, blah, blah...) a heron flew down river, very low over the water. In the quarry opposite the Ravens were on their nest, and a group of Jackdaws explored the cliffs.

Sunday, October 7th

Two black Cormorants were watching the storm drain out-flow with a large flock of Mallard nearby on the river water, the ducks had to paddle hard to stay in place in the current. Today the river was near to low tide, numerous gulls lined the water edge on both sides of the Avon. A Redshank was just below Sea Walls, and a couple of others further down, as usual, on this side of the river. The Redshank's red legs glow in the sunshine. At the Peregrine watch there were plenty of Sunday trippers, somehow they never seem to stop and just gaze at the view for very long, a 'photo and a quick glance is all it gets. Over in the quarry opposite the Ravens were perched close together just below their nest, and lower down some Jackdaws were exploring the cliffs. I saw no raptors today.