(Monday, Tuesday 8th,9th December) Monday 15th December,

More walking. We still have very cold weather, when the sun is out it is lovely. Last week (8th 9th) there were Peregrines perched over in the oak. Today, none, but as I crossed the Down towards Sea Walls a Peregrine flew a few feet over the grass, chasing and chased by the Crows, Jackdaws and Gulls, and scaring all the other birds - particularly some Pigeons over near Rockleaze! The tide was high and still coming in, but the bitter cold did not encourage me to dawdle. I came across the top of the Gully, and just as I came onto the grass, out of the woodland, a Green Woodpecker sprang from the trees in front of me. No more Peregrines, but a Robin, several pairs of Blackbirds, and a flock of Fieldfare as I came back across the Down and through the Dumps. As usual numerous 'small brown birds', too far off to recognize properly. There are a great number of Wood Pigeons along my route from Bishopston, and on the Downs. They sit in the tops of the trees, hunched against the cold, nervously flying off if they perceive me walking past and under them, as a danger.

Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, 3rd, 6th, 7th December

It has been far too cold for cycling, so walking to the Gorge became my exercise! The sun was particularly brilliant over the weekend, so that the brilliant blue sky, the very still air, and a slowly rising tide, made the sun's reflection in the river from Sea Walls an almost perfect blinding globe. The suns warmth was palpable.
On Saturday the rare site of a Swan in the very center of the river gave the bridge scene a perfection that I have not seen before - the Suspension Bridge was reflected in the river with the bird and its own small reflection below it. Also on Saturday I walked down through the Gully, past Walcombe Slade and onto the Portway. At the top the Gully was very quiet and cold, and the path muddy and steep, few birds though. As the path descends it flattens a bit and the traffic noise starts to intrude. We take our life in our hands crossing the Portway, even with the new red Bus Lane. There should be a pedestrian crossing at the base of the Gully, by the Bristol Water site. Walking along the Portway footpath is not too pleasant, due to the fast, noisy traffic, but from this racket my attention was drawn to the river by a ringing, peeping, bird-call. A nervous Redshank was flying back and forth low over the water, probably objecting to me and a yacht coming up-river. It landed close to another Redshank on the opposite mud bank. Then a little later I saw a flight of half a dozen Redshank, again flying low over the water. There was a Peregrine perched in a Leigh Woods tree, then a couple of Ravens appeared, and he disappeared!
On Sunday, now from the top of the Gorge by the Peregrine Watch, I saw three Peregrines; two in a similar position in the trees, one as it came in to land; another flew up-river towards the Suspension Bridge.
On all the days, other birds: many Black Headed Gulls on the Downland; the inevitable Rooks, Crows, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons and Sea Gulls; a small group of Goldfinches by Redland Green; Cormorants and Mallard, flying and on the river; a brief glimpse of a Buzzard as it disappeared east over the Downs up over the Gully; Thrushes, Blackbirds, a few Sparrows and other "Small Brown Birds" flying to fast or too far off to recognise

Friday, Sunday, Monday, 28th, 30th Novemeber, 1st December

Friday and Sunday were walking days but on Monday I braved the bitter cold on my bicycle.
Friday: walked the length of the Gorge rim from Observatory Hill to Sea Walls. I wanted some 'photos for the Downswatch website, in particular some around Observatory Hill. There are nooks and crannies to these Downs that make them a paradise (albeit cold now) for the wildlife; clearing the sides of the gorge to open up views akin to those in the 1820's seems like madness to me.
At the Peregrine Watch there was a curious excursion by a Sparrowhawk - maybe to be called "why did the Sparrowhawk cross the river". The bird left Walcombe Slade, glided across to the trees in Leigh Woods, did a couple of very brief circuits above the trees, and headed straight back the way it had come!
Sunday: I reached the Peregrine Watch just as one of the Peregrines was coming in to the cliff, I saw him for fractions of a second, then again very briefly a few moments later when he circled before returning to the cliff. A small flock of Redwings were flying around.
Monday: Too cold to linger long, there were Black headed Gulls very close to Ladies Mile, apart from the 'head phones' their red beaks and legs look rather paler than I remember from a close encounter in the Lakes this summer.

A nice comment about my blog from Des (thanks!), with a picture of a Bullfinch on Dyrdham Down:

Monday, Wednesday, 24th 26th November

Last Friday (21st) and Sunday (23rd) were very cold, but I did walk up to the Peregrine Watch, not that there was much to see apart from Jackdaws and Seagulls. On Monday a rare sighting (for me) of a pair of Wrens, first a small brown object which left me wondering how a leaf could move so fast, then, I assume, it's mate perched a few feet away on a bush, looked at me, and disappeared to join the 'leaf'. No Peregrines, but I think there were two Peregrines over in the oak (see last blog), and not a broken branch. In very cold weather the Redshank are not seen on the mud, today, Wednesday, there was bright sunshine and there were two under Sea Walls.

Thursday 20th November

Another bright morning, but with high clouds and a slight wind from the north west. There was a blindingly bright sun reflection from the river at Sea Walls. A couple of Redshank, but the rising tide and a small area of mud was driving the birds from their feeding ground. At the Peregrine Watch a bird could be seen opposite, perched in the oak, and just to the left another light object. yesterday I thought that this was a second Peregrine, today, I'm not so sure. It could be a broken branch. I'll see if it still appears on future visits.

Friday, Sunday, Wednesday, 14th, 16th, 19th November

On Friday I watched a Redshank having a bath in the river side below Black Rocks. It fluffed up its' feathers and sprayed water all over them, them wriggled and jostled them back into order, all the while working on the plumage with its' long beak, then it left the water for the riverside mud, and shook itself like a little dog. During this wash the beautiful white wing stripes and the red legs came into and out of view. Magical!
Sunday gave a glimpse of a Peregrine disappearing around the corner of Black Rocks and into the Gully, then at the Watch another Peregrine swooped past a group of Jackdaws near the Jackdaw tree, driving them into the bushes at the top of the cliff. The bird was only bullying, not hunting. It is good to show who is boss occasionally.
Today, Wednesday, the river formed long convex ripples which appeared to move upstream as a north westerly wind blew across the surface. First one, then the other Raven appeared from over Sea Walls and flew into Leigh Woods to the left of the Peregrine Watch, they stayed a while, then took off, circled over by Nightingale Valley and came back past me. As one passed it let out a single faint RAAK. The wing-tip feather of these mighty majestic birds separate as they fly. They both disappeared over towards Shirehampton again. What were they investigating on this there-and back-again journey? What did one of them say to me?
Over in Leigh Woods the leaves have all gone, and the Peregrines are back on their customary roosts opposite. I could see two light specks in the oak tree slightly to the left of twin tree stumps covered in ivy, one bird faced me, the other had its' back to me and was just behind the tree branches. Both birds moved slightly, so were probably digesting meals.

Sunday November 9th

A large group of Jackdaws in tight flight, wheeled and gyrated in a strong wind, then set off over us across the Downs. A Peregrine flew past and disappeared down towards Snyed Park.

Friday 7th November

A walk to the Peregrine Watch today, not that it was that cold. Six Redshank on the mud opposite, about to be driven off by the incoming tide.
I was told that there was a Peregrine perched over opposite on the 'white cliff', but could not see it. Chris Jones sent me this fine picture of 'Bubo', I have been told that this Eagle Owl is a male - and that the females of the species are even larger.

Tuesday, Thursday, November 4th, 6th

On Tuesday I walked over to the Peregrine Watch, taking the route around the Downs roads. There were large flocks (hundreds) of Blacked Headed Gulls, mixed with a few Rooks, Crows and Jackdaws; since the grassland was very wet, the pickings must have been good. Some gulls made the most of Downland which had been churned to mud by a fun fair on Saturday last. One of the houses on Rockleaze has chicken in the front garden! I think that they were Cuckoo Marans - one of the worlds finest fowls for eggs. The tide was high, so not much to be seen. Just as I was about to leave the Peregrine Watch there was a commotion right in front of me, a peregrine chased a couple of Jackdaws, probably out of habit rather than hunger since it disappeared up into the Gully. The rest of the jackdaw flock arose from their perches on the cliff and milled around for a while before deciding that the danger had passed.
On Thursday I was on my bicycle again. The Downs were very cold, so it was not pleasant to linger at the Peregrine Watch - and my glasses steamed up rapidly when I stopped cycling. The river was very still, so that the reflections of the trees opposite were sharp in the water. Whilst I was looking at this the first Redshank flew in low over the water to land on the mud, the white flashes on his wings making him large and obvious.

Friday 31st October, Sunday 2nd November

I walked through "The Dumps" to get to and from the Peregrine Watch; an advantage of walking is that you see more - a wren, chaffinches, a Jay, Magpies (lots!), and one that was too quick to recognise, but it had a white(ish) chest. There were Redshank on the mud below the Peregrine Watch.
Sunday was not quite as cold as Friday, so I chanced a cycle ride, and was regretting it by the time I got to Ladies Mile for the first time. When there is mud, the Redshank are permanent fixtures at this time of year. Saturday night was very wet, so the annual fireworks display combined with parking and a funfair made the Downland behind the Water Tower into a ploughed field. Several hundred Gulls were spread out onto two large areas behind this mud.
Geraldine Taylor's new book The Bristol Downs, a natural history year has been published. Yours truly has a short section and a link to this Blog from it! Buy!

Tuesday, Wednesday October 28th, 29th

Cold weather is not conducive to cycling, so I walked to the Downs. On the river mud there are small groups of Redshank, their legs glowing red in the sunshine, on Wednesday I counted eight birds in a small group opposite the Peregrine Watch. The black headed gulls have regained their earphones, there were over a hundred of them on the football pitches of the Plateau. I also saw several Jays.

On Wednesday I walked over to the University to take a look at bubo bubo, Clifton's own Eagle Owl, as featured in the Guardian on October 10th. She was perched in the sycamore tree beside the steps up to University Walk from Woodland Road beside the Queens Building. Today, the best view was from the lawn beside BISC. She was a little difficult to see at first, but once spotted is difficult to miss! Enormous, majestic, beautiful, awesome, are all understatements, and sitting on a big thick branch with her tail protruding from underneath. There are reports of these owls breeding in Yorkshire, and the RSPB has commented on them, though I don't like the comment since it hints at culling! Whilst I love cats (I have three!), it is about time the local moggies learned some respect, they have had matters their own way with most of the bird population of the UK for far too long. Whilst I was looking at Bubo some old friends from Computer Science appeared and told me that the remains of a cat had been found under the tree, also that the owl was feeding on local grey squirrels. I also heard that local foxes take cover. We should also warn the corgi population!

Monday 27th October

The grassland beside Sea Walls attracted a large group of Crows, Rooks and a few young Herring Gulls, a Raven landed briefly on the Black Rock cliff, then glided off around towards the river. On the mud I could see one or two Redshank. All was quiet at the Peregrine Watch initially, then a large group of Jackdaws arose from under the cliff, wheeled around over the river, and as if someone had said 'right folks, off to the grass', flew over towards Clifton Down. I though that was it, but no, several views of the Ravens, then a grey Peregrine flew from Leigh Woods to land under the cliff, moments later a pair of Kestrels left Leigh Woods near the quarries, and I watched (the female?), glide across to Walcombe Slade. Just before I left for home and breakfast a Sparrowhawk flew from Leigh Woods and disappeared into the trees on the left beside Circular Road.

Thursday 23rd October

This morning there were Redshank on both sides of the river mud, even the quartet that I saw yesterday. Two of the four birds are a little lighter than the others, maybe the adults have gained their winter plumage, so that the other two are youngsters from this year's brood - they remain darker. I had a beautiful view of male Kestrel at Sea Walls, he was flying around the cliffs, presenting a reddish brown back and black wing ends, with a grey head and tail and a black bit with a bar on his tail. Seeing him from above is a pleasure afforded by the view from the top of a couple of hundred foot of cliff!

Wednesday October 22nd

There were Redshank on the mud downriver from Sea Walls, and a quartet of the birds pecked and strutted the mud opposite the Peregrine Watch. A Buzzard appeared over the river opposite Walcombe Slade, then moments later a Peregrine came into view, he chased a Jackdaw towards Black Rocks, was unsuccessful, then disappeared, probably into the valley. There was a rain shower just before I left home, the sun shone for my ride.

Friday 17th October

At midday the quarry opposite the Peregrine Watch is very dark, with the sunshine casting dark shadows over the rocks, so that spotting any Peregrines is difficult. I could not see one, neither were there any sign of a bird in flight. On the mud under Sea Walls a couple of Redshank were feeding. A quiet noon.

Thursday 16th October

I cycled around via Temple Meads, along the Cut, then walked(!) up Bridge Valley Road and came via Fairyland to th Peregrine Watch. There seem to be more Jays around than in the past, or am I noticing them more? The Jackdaws were performing some very curious antics in the air, seeming to fall over and drop, almost as if they were being attacked by something in the air. Over Fairyland a group of three Magpies was harassing a couple of Jackdaws. The tide was high, but receeding, so there was no mud for the waders.

Tuesday 14th October

A very grey looking Peregrine flew into the banana tree. He remained still in the tree, facing the river, for the rest of my stay. His flight was almost like a Pigeon, with fast wing beats. Most unexpected! A little later I mistook a Pigeon for another Peregrine. Ahh me! There were a large number of gulls in groups along the river mud, I expect these are Black Headed Gulls, but as yet without their fine brown heads. I spotted a couple of Redshank just under Sea Walls, and a quartet of Cormorants (in formation), flew rapidly towards the docks. They outpaced the Portway cars some of the time.

Monday October 13th

A grey day with some rain in the wind. A Heron flew up river, one of the Ravens glided overhead. No Peregrines today.

Sunday 12th October

Low tide, with a fast stream flowing down the middle of two mud banks. The oil slick has nearly disappeared. Most of bird activity was down near the water and on the mud, and as soon as I had my glasses out at Sea Walls, I saw two Redshank flying low over the mud. Others were on the waters edge. There were gulls and ducks on the water being swept rapidly downstream. A Cormorant flew upriver and a Grey Heron landed just under the Peregrine Watch, then moved down to some rocks past Sea Walls. No Peregrines, but a Raven was perched over on the nest.

Thursday October 9th

Another sunny morning. The river was slack and oily looking, just opposite the Peregrine Watch a very ugly smear of oil spread for several hundred metres up the opposite mud bank. An accident? A spill?
There were single Redshank, legs glowing in the sunshine, up and down all of the mud. I watched one fly low over the riverside, the white flashes from its wings another giveaway to what it was. Jays, Magpies, Pigeons, Peregrines, Gulls and all the other birds can be recognised by their flight.

Thursday October 2nd, Wednesday October 8th

There was a lot of activity over in the trees and in the quarries opposite to the Peregrine Watch when I arrived on Wednesday. Three of the Ravens and a couple of Magpies appeared to be chasing a Peregrine! At times the Peregrine flew down into the quarry, was harassed by one or more of the tormentors, and chased into another tree. This continued spasmodically every five minutes or so for the whole of my late morning visit, a burst of flying and chasing, a retreat to another tree or bush, then a lull, then off again. Why didn't the Peregrine just leave and fly off elsewhere, I'm sure it could out-pace any of the birds giving it grief. Maybe the Peregrine was injured? Maybe this was one of the parents trying to protect one of the young birds lying injured somewhere? The last time I heard news of them, three of the five Peregrine chicks were surviving. Is this still so?

The Thursday before was uneventful and dull; I thought I could see a Peregrine perched on the quarry side, however on Wednesday it was either still rooted there, or this was yet another bird-like rock blemish!

Back to Wednesday. There were a few Redshank among the gulls on the mud down river of Sea Walls. When I arrived at the Peregrine Watch a dark brown Peregrine (youngster) was flying, first at Gorge-top level, then gaining height and moving over towards Snyed Park, where I lost binocular sight of it.

My fewer blogs over the last few weeks have been due to absences from Bristol, the weather, and a virus that seems to be rather persistent and difficult to shake off.

Sunday 21st September

A high, incoming tide and sunshine! The Jackdaws have been very active around their tree (I heard that it used to be a small holm oak which was 'culled'), they landed several times then all scattered as a Peregrine swooped past, and, unusually, disappeared low over the fence into Fairyland. I did not see it emerge, so gave up and went home.

Wednesday, Thursday, 17th, 18th September

I'm back! Visits from grandchildren, bad weather and a walk along the Great Glen have kept me busy since the beginning of the month. Last Monday coming through the forest into Inverness we saw two majestic Red Kites. These are huge birds!
Yesterday had grey-yellow sky, today a beautiful blue. The tide was high and on the turn, so that I was not able to see any of the waders, I expect that they are back for the winter by now. No peregrines, just a squadron of ducks in a fly-past!

Sunday 31st August, Monday 1st September

Sunday was warm, very damp and muggy, with low gray clouds. A Raven was crouched up on the edge of their nest. A very rapid fly-past of a red-brown Kestrel was the only other raptor sighting. About a dozen Jackdaws were perched in 'their tree', all in close pairs, other pairs flew and called above the river. Monday was fine, cloudy and windy. From Black Rocks I could see a Peregrine perched on the side of their nest hole, but there were no others to be seen at the Peregrine Watch. A Buzzard flew over, this looked like an old bird, at any rate it had a lot of damage to its tail feathers, which gave this impression.

Thursday 28th August

Half-low ebb tide with a good area of mud, a very cloudy gray sky and a hint of rain. August Ugh!!! However I had my first sighting of Redshank, two were on the mud below Black Rocks surrounded by a large group of Common, Herring, and Black Headed Gulls, while immediately under the cliff a Heron crouched, hunched up and well away from the water. Later, at the Peregrine Watch, a Cormorant flew down stream, and a Peregrine moved from the top of the yew onto the banana tree then disappeared into the foliage of the whitebeam to the left of the Raven's Nest.

Friday 22nd August

A truly beautiful morning, fluffy white clouds and patches of blue, only a light breeze. There are still some very wet patches from the rain. There "may" have been Peregrine over at the back of the banana tree, but the light made it difficult to be certain. High tide, or nearly so, so not many birds.

Thursday August 21st

The early blue sky gave way to clouds, but at least it has not rained yet. Two Peregrines were visible from the Watch, one in the banana tree, the other over at the top of the yews to the left. Another bird on the quarry cliff was just a piece of rock, or so I think. Wood Pigeons were flying all around these raptors, they must sense when their foes have fed.

Monday 18th August

High tide (just starting to ebb), with low grey clouds and a hint of rain in the air. This was one of the most 'birdless' mornings that I have seen for a while. Just as I was about to leave a Peregrine flew from the cliff over to the top of the quarry.

Sunday August 17th

Sunshine and showers today. A group of Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls were on the grass beside Circular Road, there were young and mature gulls in the group, interesting to see the different plumage for these gulls. They ARE confusing, so I forgive myself some earlier comments in this blog concerning 'mystery gulls'. At the Peregrine Watch there were a couple of eponymous fly-byes under the cliff and over the river! I retreated before the next shower arrived.

Thursday August 14th

The heavy rain of the last two days kept me away from the Downs, where the gulls and corvus like the soft ground. There was a Peregrine over on the cliff just above the Raven's next, maybe another in a neighbouring birch. Over the river a couple of young Lesser Black Backed Gulls were swooping around in a hawk-like manner.

Sunday August 10th

This was a morning for sun, wind, rain and chases! The five Ravens chased a buzzard low over the woodland opposite Sea Walls, from the Peregrine Watch the six birds rose and fell over the edge of the trees by the river bend. As a small yacht went down river, a flock of gulls preceeded it, among these a Heron was chased by a Lesser Black Backed Gull. A Peregrine dived on a seagull, missed and went after a pigeon, it must have been a young bird, it made a mess of that as well! After the chase the Peregrine disappeared off towards Stoke Bishop, joined by another (young?) Peregrine. There was a Peregrine in the top of the Yew and another in the "Banana" Tree opposite, both visible from Sea Walls. Both Buzzards and Peregrines were flying high above the Gorge. Being a Sunday, many people were out on the Downs; I stayed for about an hour.

Thursday 7th August

The tide was high and still flowing up river, with it came a large number of Cormorants, firstly two at our level, they looked like a pair of geese when I spotted them coming from Sea Walls direction, as they passed we could see that they had their beaks open. Next five just above the river surface, flying in a staggered line, then two other groups of three flying beside Leigh Woods. Over in the quarry to the left of the Peregrine Watch was a Roe deer, and in the opposite quarry sat a young Peregrine, statue-like, and just up from the Raven nest. Apparently he had been there several hours. The prospect of a heavy shower of rain made me head for home!

Monday to Thursday, July 28th to 31st

The Avon Gorge, by Paul Evans. The picture was a present from my daughter Joanna and her partner Chris, painted for me as a present for my 70^th birthday. Somehow, Paul has captured the terrible rhythmic beauty that is the Gorge; a river of gold in the sunlight, but the dark sides of the trees and cliffs holding many shades and colours. The 'photo image below is not a very good one, but will have to suffice for now. See also the collaboration between Chris and Paul, in their work, "Cells"



On Monday there were bunches of flowers above Black Rocks at Sea Walls to lament yet another young girl's death; someone had removed them by Tuesday? The contrast with my weekend (birthday on Saturday 26^th, and our Ruby Wedding Anniversary a week earlier), for the family who had lost a loved daughter and sister, is terrible. The other flowers, just above the Peregrine nest, for another young girl, have faded but are still there.

The Peregrines were flying each day, sometimes briefly, with only a glimpse as they came into the cliff, other times noisily as a young bird chased a parent for food. They do mew a little like kittens! The mystery of the brown seagulls was finally laid to rest as I watched all three young birds begging from a Lesser Black Backed Gull parent. Perched on the rocks exposed by a low estuary tide, these young gulls blend perfectly into the background. An unusual sight on Tuesday was of a Buzzard flying low down over the river, it caused the gulls on the mud to get up and chase it as it passed.

Wednesday, Thursday 23rd, 24th July

Wednesday. Roger Yates and Mandy Leivers were at the Peregrine Watch when I arrived, Mandy on one of her missions to log the Downs fauna. She emailed me after, with a note of some of her "haul". Impressive! A juvenile peregrine swooping low over the Rooks at Sea Walls. A Song Thrush bashing a snail on an anvil. An adult female Green Woodpecker and a juvenile feeding on the lawns below Wills Hall. 13 meadow brown, 11 marbled white and 4 ringlet butterflies at the White Tree roundabout meadow (just been cut). A Kestrel on the Granny Downs. A Weasel at the Dumps.
About a minute after Mandy left us the large brown seagulls appeared again. Roger and I have decided they must be young Greater Black Backed Gulls, probably 2nd year, and there are three, so probably siblings. Yesterday one was playing with a bit of stick.
The three Peregrine kittens were flying around, chasing each other in the quarry opposite. One landed in the Jackdaw Tree to the consternation of the Jackdaws, and on the river we saw two groups of two cormorants on their way to the docks. Roger could hear a Blackcap. So Mandy's sightings show that to the watchful eye, the Bristol Downs are an amazing place for wildlife.

Thursday. A brief glimpse of the Peregrine, but the visit was darkened by finding three bunches of flowers attached to the fence just above the Peregrine nest. Someone had jumped from the cliffs to their death. What can I say?

Tuesday 22nd July

The mystery gull(s) are back! Two of these birds were flying around over the river under the Peregrine Watch this morning at around 7.30am, another set off towards the city docks. We had very clear views of them, but identification is another problem. I'll attempt a description, they have dark beaks, and brown flecked plumage which darkens to black at their wing tips. The leading edge of the wings were also darker, going to almost black, much lighter on the trailing edge. The heads are a lighter brown, and some white shows when they preen and turn their heads. I couldn't see the leg colour clearly from above. The gulls were on the water, and also the mud for some of the time. The tail feather tips are black, with a white area in front of this and above their rump, rather like the Sabine's Gull (I don't think they are these). Neither are they the Skuas, or the Shearwaters. They were 'playing' with some small pieces of stick! This time the other gulls (Black Headed mostly), ignored them. One guess is that they are immature Greater Black Backed Gulls. Otherwise could they be a hybrid? A web search for similar looking birds, particularly when photographed from above, drew a blank. I joked to Roger (Yates) as I left, that I hoped they would not attract twitchers! A 'photo would be very useful.

There was a Heron on the mud below Sea Walls, the first I've seen for a month or so.

Friday 18th July

Two of the Peregrine kittens were pursuing their mother and demanding to be fed! A Buzzard could be seen over towards the Suspension Bridge, and a flight of five Cormorants came past. The Black Headed Gulls and this years offspring have returned to the estuary. Always something!

Wednesday July 16th

I lingered at the Peregrine Watch - talking! But with an eye on the activity over the river, there was not much, some flights by Peregrines, and they could be seen perching in various trees and in the quarry opposite. A much greater interest was a large dark (blackish) gull which passed up and down a few times, at first I thought it was a hawk, but it had the head of a gull. A juvenile gull? Possible, but this bird flew like an adult, and its plumage was not like any of the young Herring or Black backed Gulls, much blacker. The size was comparable to a Herring Gull, possibly a little smaller. As it left the Gorge, flying over towards the Zoo, it was mobbed by a Herring Gull, and the two together looked similar in size. Shearwaters sometimes pass through, but its slight hawk-like appearance, and the reaction of the other gull makes me wonder if this wasn't a juvenile Skua. There were no tail streamers of the adult Skua. Have any Skuas ever been seen in the Avon Gorge?

Tuesday 15th July

This morning the Downs were misty with low clouds over Leigh Woods, and a dampness in the air. I did not stop, from the corner of my eye as I rejoined ladies Mile, I noticed two of the Peregrine kittens playing in the air just above the Peregrine Watch, and above them a large group of Swifts.

Sunday 13th July

This was one of those quiet, cotton wool cloud, windless mornings when many people make the most of the Downs, walking, jogging, cycling, picnicking, flying kites, or just watching. There was very little activity from the Peregrines, an occasional glimpse as they settled into the cliff under the Peregrine Watch, and sightings at various parts of the quarry, the banana tree and down by the Valerian. One was visible from Sea Walls on the nest, but had gone when I returned later. Then, a buzzard flew in circles over Walcombe Slade. On the river mud there were groups of Black Headed Gulls.

Thursday, Friday, 10th, 11th July

I have been watching 'le Tour de France' on ITV4. It struck me that the riders would cover the distance that I travel on each of these mornings (17.2km) in about 20 minutes! If I don't stop at Sea Walls or the Peregrine Watch, then the main holdups are with traffic, especially around 8 to 9 am in school terms, and the journey takes about 55 minutes. That was Thursday.
Friday was well worth a stop, from Sea Walls I could see one of the Peregrines atop the yew tree. At the Peregrine Watch, the Peregrine Kittens gave a great display of 'catch the black headed gull' and catch the pigeon, or maybe even a bee over Leigh Woods. They failed with all of these (or at least the first two), but the flying was spectacular. There were a couple of more business-like fly pasts as well. There are three young Peregrines still.

Monday, Tuesday, 7th, 8th July

Fewer falcons around at present, they can be seen on the cliff trees and ledges, but are often difficult to pick out against the rock face. Tuesday morning a bird was perched low down near a patch of valerian, it could be seen clearly from Sea Walls as well. A Kestrel hovered for a while over the trees at the side of Circular Road, and a local squirrel begged for food! Lets hope she does not become Kestrel food! As usual the Jackdaws were in and out of 'their' tree. The cover picture of Spring 2008 Eye-On-Local-Nature featured Jackdaws - they remain my favorite bird! Contact Geraldine Taylor - a frequent visitor to the Peregrine Watch about her Eye-On publication, now up to No 149!

Friday 4th July

The three Peregrine kittens frolicked in the air whilst one of the parents surveyed their antics from the bottom of the 'banana' tree - at least that is what it looked like! The youngsters flew, often so close you would think they would fall from the air in a knot, and at other times chasing each other, with mock attacks, swoops and aerial acrobatics. It was a scene to relish - and to wonder what it might have been like were there still five of them? Ghosts perhaps, but sometimes the bird shadows, projected by the morning sun onto the cliff face, made the appearance of more than three birds!
On our side a quartet of Cormorants flew rapidly up river to the docks, their shadows came into view before the birds, flying close together, and just over the Portway rather than the water; a hide tide and still coming in. Just behind, and over the Downs, a Kestrel appeared, hovered briefly, then flew off to the north.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 30th June, 1st, 2nd July

On Monday a grey Heron was perched on a crate beside the storm outflow below Sea Walls, he was busy cleaning his feathers rather than fishing. Cormorants are very common, flying either low over the water, or high above the Gorge.
Opinion seems to be that there are now only three of the five young Peregrines still around; so what happened to the other two? The trio, and their parents, can be seen sitting on the tops of the trees and on the quarry face opposite the Peregrine Watch. They also fly around and (the youngsters) are starting to chase other birds, so no doubt we will see them honing these skills over the next few weeks. Even a few minutes at the Gorge should enable the siting of a Peregrine at present.

Sunday June 29th

The tide was low and a few Mallard, Black Headed, Herring and Black Backed Gulls were picking morsels! At first at the Peregrine Watch it was very quiet, eventually a lone Peregrine could be spotted high on the opposite quarry face on a feeding ledge, then another bird flew in, and another could be seen on a tree to the left of the quarry. Three birds, but was one an adult? Opinion seems to be that there are a minimum of three young Peregrines still around, and this was born out this morning by spotting a young female and two young males. About 9.30am a Sparrow Hawk appeared over the river, then two Buzzards, then one of the young female Peregrines (or was it an adult?) was seen buzzing the Buzzards! Three raptors around at the same time! When I left for breakfast just after 10am, the two young males were playing chase above the Downs, and one bird was still over on the quarry ledge.

20th June, 23rd - 27th June

Friday 20^th. The first time for a long time that I did not stop at the Peregrine Watch.

The week (23^rd-27^th) has been dominated by the young Peregrines, anyone visiting the Peregrine Watch at the moment is almost certain to see one or more of them. They are everywhere and play like sky born kittens. One landed in the Jackdaw Tree to the consternation of the 'Daws, they perch all over the quarry opposite, often two in the top of the yew trees, on the 'feeding ledge', by and on the Raven's nest, and on the grass and trees on the Downs side. Sometimes they fly straight at us, coming sharply up over the cliff edge. From Sea Walls a small white front may be visible on their nest edge. Even on Friday 27^th, with a nasty misty rain, two were chasing a parent (the female?) around, and could be heard calling ... kee, kee, kee. But where was the male and the other three youngsters? On Wednesday, when a couple of Ravens passed over they could be heard calling even louder.

So, are there still five of them? I think I could account for five birds earlier in the week, but it is difficult to say. The weather on the 27^th was not good, cold and wet, and young birds need feeding regularly. Keeping track of them is difficult for the Watchers, for the parents it must be impossible. Now if they were ducks we might expect five in a line, escorted by their parents! Some hope!

Wednesday, Thursday, 18th, 19th June

Wednesday. A light rain fell from high cloud for most of my ride this morning. At the Peregrine Watch a buzzard circled high above the river, working its way down towards Avonmouth, then as the rain cleared a little some Swifts appeared, and a Cormorant flew low over the water. Two of the young Peregrines took off separately from the nest and flew over to the opposite quarry, one landed low in the yew tree to the left of the quarry, the other in a small birch tree nearby. When the rain started again, I set off for home.
Thursday. Blue sky, low fluffy clouds and a strong wind; the tide was high but starting to go out. I watched a Peregrine fly towards Avonmouth, she flew rather than glided in the way the birds do when hunting. I suspect this was not one of the nest birds. As I watched another Peregrine appeared in my glasses, this one was gliding around, then dropping fast as if chasing something, she looked almost as if she was playing in the strong wind. The she dropped like a stone towards the Gully. A kill perhaps? I did not see her again, but a little later glimpsed two birds coming into the nest from the direction of the Gully. Just before I left the Watch, a Peregrine up near the Suspension Bridge scared a Pigeon into the trees! Is it my imagination or are the Pigeons flying faster than usual over to the safety of the trees?

Tuesday June 17th

Five Young Peregrines Ready for the World!

The Avon Gorge Peregrines have five fledged youngsters this year, a record number for the Gorge nest. Chris Jones took this amazing nest edge 'photo.

This morning I was at the Watch for an hour and a half watching an unfolding saga. We managed to see at least four of the young birds, some of them on their nest, but at least one of them was over in the wood above the quarry. Three young birds could be seen on their nest edge from a cliff vantage point under an ash; the parents were over in the quarry, one on the cliff below the Raven nest, the other in a Whitebeam; a lone youngster remained for all the time, perched at the top of a dead tree spike, it was still there when I left. At one time a pair of Buzzards flew high overhead. Then one parent circled up and down the Gorge, high, high above in search of food, she did not swoop for a long time, then rapidly descended towards the Suspension Bridge, only to reappear, this time with her mate, perhaps a thousand feet above the river where they circled together. Even higher up there was a cormorant!

Thursday 12th June

Three Peregrines this morning, the male and female flew around under the Peregrine Watch, and I suppose onto their nest. Then another bird appeared over the Gully, and flew in wide circles up and over me, then over towards Clifton, back over by the Suspension Bridge, and finally disappearing as a speck far over Leigh Woods to the west. This was a hunting Peregrine, but she made on swoop. There was another sighting of that Cormorant that thinks it is a Peregrine, appearing high over the Gully, it circled and glided over me, then did a rapid slip off over towards the Zoo!

Wednesday 11th June

I have been away in the Lake District with my sister Ann, Fell Walking for a week. No cycle rides! A visit to Haweswater with the potential to see the Eagle was irresistible! And we were very lucky - also not to fall off the very scary ridge climb. My comment below was to the RSPB Haweswater visitor book. Addendum, they don't publish everything! Apparently the comment below was not sufficiently interesting ...... (17-6-08)

"We walked up the rough and dangerous 3 km path above Riggindale, over Swine, Heron and Eagle Crags, then between Rough Crag and coming by Caspel Gate the Eagle appeared, soaring around the top side of the Blea Water Crag. It was about 1.30pm. He glided around the crags for some minutes, and I thought he was about to land, but then he ascended rapidly up into the strong wind blowing over High Street. I took the glasses off him, but could not see which way he flew. We only realized how strong the wind was when we reached the cairn above Long Stile. This is one scary walk! Coming over the top another group of five large birds was flying low over to the west of Racecourse Hill. I was attuned to the Eagle, but these could not possibly be Eagles!! I suspect a Raven family, since the birds were pretty well all the same size, and that would be like the Ravens that hatched three chicks earlier this year on the Bristol Avon Gorge, then went off with their parents. The wind was so strong on Monday afternoon on High Street that it was difficult to hold my binoculars, so judging the size and distance of this quintet was difficult, and they soon disappeared. There were a large number of Geese at Mardale Head, but I could not recognise them. Wow!!!
John Maher and Ann Casey"

We stayed in Ambleside at Smallwood House, Compston Road. Christine and Anthony Harrison made us very welcome in their delightful hotel, and we thank them for their hospitality and for providing a base for our walking days.

Friday 30th May

As I cycled past Sea Walls I had a glimpse of a red-brown Kestrel as she disappeared into Walcombe Slade, then later at the Peregrine Watch a couple brief views of the female Peregrine, she circled out into the Gorge a couple of times, then back to the nest. It cannot be too long before the chicks hatch - they may have done so already. How many this year?

Tuesday, Thursday, 27th, 29th May

This is my 250^th entry! Tuesday was cold, grey and unlike a May morning, today, after yesterday's heavy rain, was foggy at the start, but cleared to blue sky and clouds, the remnants of the rain left large puddles and a very humid warm atmosphere.
I spotted the Peregrine almost immediately, she was perched, facing me on a small S-shaped branch on what I later decided was an oak. She sat, firstly like a little gold trophy, then as she began preening her feathers, she showed many different poses. From her crop, I guess she had fed recently, and was sitting in the sunshine digesting her kill.
Forty years ago Geraldine and I visited Kilibegs in Donegal, and I remember going to the harbour to watch a fishing boat discharge a catch of mackerel, the Herring Gulls were diving onto the catch, taking off, and swallowing their booty whole, almost at the same time a huge quantity of white excrement issued from their rear ends. We retreated rapidly! So it was with this Peregrine, it looked as if she had discharged a bucketful! After this she moved to the back of the tree behind the foliage, just visible when one knew where to look.
Whilst I was watching her, one of the others at the Peregrine watch told me that the male was flying around below the cliff, no doubt a brief exercise between sitting on the eggs. The male does help with this, doesn't he? I wonder how many chicks there will be this year?

Friday 23rd May

A quiet morning, the tide was still coming in. No peregrines, but there were Swifts flying high up above the river, and a trio of Mallard flying around like spitfires!

Wednesday 21st May

A Cormorant flew downstream low over the river water, following the river bends and racing the traffic on the Portway; the bird was easily matching the cars which travel at between 40 and 50 mph. The still, high water level, probably helped it, but I was amazed at the birds' turn of speed. I had a brief view of the male Peregrine as he came into the cliff below the Peregrine Watch.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, 18-20th May

The temperature has dropped by ten degrees from last week, and there is a cold north wind, only when the sun comes from behind the clouds does it feel like late May. I saw the Peregrines today and Sunday, on each occasion coming from somewhere in the trees and after circling several times over the river, landing under the cliff.
The estuary is very quiet at present, few gulls or ducks, and no Redshank. I usually look down river from Sea Walls with my glasses to see if I can see anything on the mud. Today I was rewarded with the sight of a pair of Shelduck, a large male and his accompanying smaller mate, they were well down river so a little difficult to see. A Lesser Black Backed Gull was taking an interest in whatever the male duck had found in the mud, and the duck kept the gull at bay - also enabling me to see that the duck was larger than the gull. So these were certainly not a pair of Shoveler ducks.
On Monday, in nearly the same place, but over the grass beside the river, a Kestrel was hunting. Every now and again the bird dived and flew over the nearby road (chasing something?), so that on a couple of occasions it nearly collided with passing vehicles - a large coach in particular. Eventually the Kestrel gave up the river side and disappeared into the woodland beside Snyed Park.

Friday May 16th

There are no Redshank on the mud at low tide, I expect that they are all away on their nests! There must be a Wren's nest close to the Jackdaw Tree; the Wren sings when I turn up, and there was a change in the 'language' when a large Crow landed on the tree! One of the Jackdaws, also with a nest just below the cliff, did not like this Crow one little bit. I heard a raucous noise from the Jackdaw as it repeatedly dive-bombed the Crow. When the Crow didn't move the Jackdaw landed on the other side of the tree - away from the Crow - eyed the Crow up and down - took off again - and went in for the kill! This time the Crow flew off, pursued by one very angry Jackdaw, they crossed the road, and only then was the Jackdaw happy. She returned the the tree and started preening. The Wren's notes became much sweeter, and I could see it sitting on a bottom branch of a little hawthorn on the Gorge edge.

Wednesday May 14th

Four Ravens were flying lazily around over Leigh Woods, if this is 'Family Raven' I wondered where the fifth was, especially since it was difficult to distinguish the youngsters from their parents. What took place next could mean that a Peregrine has had one of the young Ravens. The male Peregrine appeared, he certainly took great exception to all four Ravens, launching a series of swoop attacks; no feathers flew but the Ravens all retreated towards Bristol. The Peregrine swooped down to his nest on the cliff below me, he folded his wings as in a swoop for the last few meters - an angry bird?!

Tuesday May 13th

Two trips up onto the Downs today. The first a foreshortened ride due to meeting Roger at the Peregrine Watch, and then, after walking back over the downland and looking at the trees and shrubs, we decided to return and spend time photographing the trees and flora on the Downs, but especially in the Gully. We spent several hours walking and clambering around the steep slopes and the rocks in the Gully (Walcombe Slade) where we took over 200 pictures. The state of a lot of this region is very disappointing. Management, hmmmm ....! I was amazed at the number of Whitebeam around, these are losing their initial white glow as the leaves age a little. The Downs trees are in their full glory at present. Westonbirt eat your heart out!
Afterwards, a short stay at the Watch in the afternoon: first a Buzzard being seen off by one of the Ravens, then later two of last years juvenile Pergrines appeared briefly and circled in the Gorge, then the male from the nest took off and started hunting, circling slowly up over Leigh Woods, disappearing for a while, then circling higher and eventually disappearing over towards Bristol. I understand that the chicks may have fledged, so we may start to see the two parents feeding their young; it will get intersting in early June.

Sunday 4th May

This morning was very quiet, I eventually spotted two of the young Ravens sitting on top of the Yew trees to the right of their nest; maybe they only return to the nest at nightfall?
The Chestnut trees on Saville Road are now fully laden with their leaves and flowers, and the other trees are showing greenery of every shade. The Gorge Whitebeams are especially beautiful, the light green of these trees (and I hear there are over 200 of them), show up vividly amongst the other greens. The Whitebeams are not all in full leaf, probably reflecting the many micro-climates of the Gorge. A little quarry to the right, when viewed from the Peregrine Watch, has a rim which is nearly ringed with Whitebeams; many more are visible in Walcombe Slade, but the best view of them is still from the Peregrine Watch.

Friday May 2nd

We saw the first Swifts this morning, calling loudly as they flew over the Peregrine Watch. Two young Ravens are still on the side of their nest, the third appears to have moved to the cliff face over to the left (we saw an adult go in to feed it). High above was a hunting Peregrine. A quiet day!

Tuesday April 29th

There was a fire over beside the water in Avonmouth, the orange-red flames were visible just under the motorway bridge, the smoke attracted attention, then a buzzard swung into view! It was silhouetted against the smoke and sky. Over by the Peregrine Watch the male Peregrine flew past on a couple of occasions, he is a dark large bird, so there is a fine view as he passes to and from the nest. Over on the Raven's nest the youngsters are flying around a little, one went as far as the quarry, at other times they sit on the side of the nest, in the neighbouring Whitebeam, or Silver Birch. I may have had a glimpse of the Kestrel from Sea Walls.

Sunday, Monday, 27th, 28th April

On Sunday we watched the foxes in the bushes below the Peregrine Watch, their bright red coats are now very prominent amid the new green foliage, nearby beside the Portway are three Bristol Whitebeams are in their spring glory. In the quarry the three young Ravens perch on the side of their nest or disappear inside it into safety. We saw the male Peregrine below in the Gorge on a couple of occasions, then the Kestrel. On Monday a Buzzard soared above Sea Walls, and then flew on over towards Snyed Park; a Cormorant started circling high above, the same happened with another Cormorant (the same one?), but over above the Peregrine Watch. Another Cormorant flew low over the water up-river. Why do Cormorants circle like this? The male Peregrine took off from below us and flew high above us, it is likely that the female is on her eggs at the moment, since the Peregrine activity is a bit muted. A flock of teenage Herring Gulls was on the river; a lone swallow passed, and I watched a Heron fly past and could follow him with binoculars almost as far as the motorway bridge. Two beautiful bright mornings, though on Monday there was a cold westerly wind, the tide is in-coming, with a little more mud each day. Only the ducks at the river edges, no other waders.

Friday April 25th

Good parenting leads to successful offspring, or at least the siblings are more likely to survive! The Ravens are certainly very watchful and attentive parents trying hard to ensure the survival of all of their brood. From Sea Walls I could spy a large shadowy figure at the top of one of the oaks; then from the Peregrine Watch, the other Raven parent at the top of the yew trees to the left of the nest. Meanwhile two smaller black forms were perched on the nest edge, and another was close by in a small tree. There was an occasional flutter of wings as the young Ravens exercised, or as one of the parents took off and patrolled the Gorge.

Footnote: The RSPB has a campaign to highlight birds of prey (Arn't Birds Brilliant). Across the UK, the Peregrine sites, along with those for Red Kites, Ospreys, Eagles and Hen Harriers, with some other species, can be
found at via a Google Map
However! No mention of the Avon Gorge Peregrines - only Cheddar Gorge!
MY email to the RSPB resulted in the following comment:
"The reason that there is no mention of the Avon Gorge peregrines is that
they are not one of our sites. The Aren't birds brilliant sites
mentioned all have RSPB staff on hand to show people the birds. The map
isn't supposed to be an exhaustive map of all sites in the UK, just
those where we have a presence and where we are showing people these
brilliant birds. I hope that this answers your query and that the peregrines
in the Avon Gorge (and Cheddar) have a successful breeding season and raise some
chicks. Best wishes, Kevin RSPB Web Team"

Wednesday, Thursday, 23rd, 24th April

Wednesday: I watched two large birds disappear over towards Burwalls, from their flight I think they were Buzzards; then, much closer above the woodland to the left of the Peregrine Watch another Buzzard was worried by the Raven family. The Ravens drove the Buzzard away down into the trees, certainly away from their valuable nestlings.
Thursday: from Sea Walls it was possible to see one of the Raven nestlings exercising its flight muscles, while at the top of one of the oaks one of the parents watched: the sun made the feathers on this large bird look like silver through my glasses. It was fascinating to watch the wing flapping from the Peregrine Watch, though difficult to see how many youngsters were in the nest - especially when the whole brood was joined by the parent birds. The parents left, and soared up over Leigh Woods, one of birds occasionally folding its wings during flight in that curious gesture that Ravens seem to have when flying with a mate. I wonder whether other watchers have commented on this?
The Kestrel appeared briefly, and flew around the trees to the left of the quarry; I did not see any sign of the Peregrines, but this may have been due to my fascination with the Ravens.

Tuesday April 22nd

The tide was high receding, and the sky grey. Over by Burwalls I had a brief view of a large bird flying away and below the trees - most likely a Buzzard, though I was hoping to see the Red Kite I heard about! A Peregrine swept past the Watch and disappeared under to the cliff; I have not seen a Peregrine over in the oaks for a couple of weeks, and soon the trees will have too much greenery to see any roosting birds. Four Magpies, four Jackdaws and a Crow squabbled behind me on the grass for scraps of bread left by someone.

Sunday 20th April

Whilst it was a very grey and misty morning, the horse chestnuts trees on Saville Road have candle-like blossoms amid their bright new greenery. On the river a high tide with very little mud, just enough under Sea Walls for a solitary Mallard. I stood at the Peregrine Watch for around twenty minutes, there were no Peregrines, but the three young Ravens were clambering and flapping around their nest - fledged and about to fly. Two Swallows sped past me towards Sea Walls, I did not see them again, the red on their chests very obvious and their short tails probably showing that they were young birds.

Thursday, Friday, 17th, 18th April

Friday: As I arrived at the Peregrine Watch and peered over the edge for the foxes, I noticed a Kestrel land in one of the ash trees beside the road, he didn't stop long, but swooped down onto the newly cut grass, there was a flutter of wings as he caught - something - probably a vole or mouse - and was off. Apart from several squadrons of Mallard, a duo of Cormorants, and numerous Seagulls, Crows and Jackdaws, a solitary Redshank, not much! The east wind was very strong and cold, so much so that I walked along part of Circular Road rather than cycle into the wind. Not a day to linger.
Thursday by contrast was sunny and only cold when the clouds passed, a small group of Redshank were feeding on the mud below Sea Walls.

Tuesday, Wednesday, 15th, 16th April

On some mornings a short stop at Sea Walls then at the Peregrine Watch has little to see, on other mornings there is a lot of activity. Tuesday and Wednesday contrasted like this. The Redshank were all lined up at the water edge on Tuesday, today they were all over the mud and I saw several flying, while a group of them bunched up at the water edge. In flight these are very elegant little birds, they fly low over the water, and the white edges to their wings, seen from above on the cliff, are attractive. Likewise the Kestrel. He was flying, rather gliding, around below the Peregrine Watch, obviously hunting. I followed him with glasses for a good five minutes until my arms tired; he skimmed the trees, landed on one, came down into a bush, then rose and hovered. The last I saw of him was high above the river towards the Suspension Bridge.

Three Cormorants flew singly downriver, another up river. Two Great Black Backed Gulls were down on the mud below, very interested in something at the water edge, they kept a Lesser Black Backed Gull and some other Gulls away from whatever interested them. In the Jackdaw Tree one bird had its mate pinned into a crook of the branches and was busy with its beak among the mate's head feathers. I'm not sure that the mate was too keen on this delousing! A flight of small birds passed, very small and with flashes of yellow, their flight was up-and-down, and they disappeared off towards the Gully. The bouncy flight shows they were probably Golfinches.

I did not see the Ravens, but may have had fleeting glimpse of a Peregrine, movement in the oaks opposite turned out to be a Grey Squirrel.

At the beginning of Circular Road, and to the right are some large trees with nests in them (5?), at one point I thought these were Rook nests, but on closer examination they seem to have Crows in them. Crows Nests!

Monday, April 14th

The blue sky of the early morning was replaced by heavy rain by the time I was passing St Ursula's on my way home! I watched it coming from Sea Walls and decided that a hasty retreat was prudent. This was a quiet morning, a dozen or so Redshank were feeding on the mud below Sea Walls, and a smaller number on the opposite bank. The waders always seem to favour the Portway side of the river. Why?

Sunday, 13th July

The Ravens were flying over Leigh Woods just before I left the Peregrine Watch this morning, the heads of their chicks are appearing just above the nest top, whilst below them there are Jackdaws in the cliff crevasses, no doubt with their nests. The Ravens don't seem to worry about the Jackdaws, I think they would if there were Crows in the vicinity, or if a Sparrow Hawk was around! I had a fleeting glimpse of the Kestrel as she came in to the trees to the right of the Peregrine Watch. Earlier, and from Sea Walls, I could see a couple of dozen Redshank lining the mud, and the Ravens sitting over in the oaks frequented by the Peregrines.

Thursday April 10th

A couple of birds with an identity crisis this morning! Firstly a Cormorant, it circled the trees opposite the Peregrine Watch, then started to circle higher and higher, passing high over the river by The Gully. I stopped following it once it was high over the Downs and at a height I normally associate with the Peregrines and some Gulls, not a Cormorant.
A Peregrine came into the cliff beneath the Peregrine Watch, then left a little while later and made for the trees opposite. A very white (and obvious) Pigeon was sitting over in one of the lower oaks, the Peregrine flew at this target, but the Pigeon just flapped around in the tree. The Peregrine went into some ivy just above the Pigeon, now also in some ivy, remained for a while, then came out and flew at the Pigeon again. The same performance, but with a less persistent attack by the Peregrine, neither attack involved a strike onto the Pigeon. After this, the Peregrine lost interest and started to circle low over the trees, then down past the Ravens nest, and on down towards Nightingale Valley, then it rose higher and higher, finally disappearing behind the trees and towards the Zoo. Hunting behaviour more like that of a Sparrowhawk than a Peregrine?

Wednesday 9th April

Click on the picture(s) for a larger view!

Another cold morning with a high, but still flowing tide. A beautiful red-brown Kestrel landed on an ash down below the Peregrine Watch, she swivelled her head round to look over her back as only a bird can, after a few minutes she flew off beneath the cliff and disappeared. The Ravens were soaring up above their nest and then over towards the Suspension Bridge, every now and then they would fly playfully at each other. Love! They also have a curious habit of seeming to 'fold-up' (for want of a better description) when flying. Their chicks are getting large, and bits of black can occasionally be seen above the nest top. Chris Jones sent me this fine picture of one of the Peregrines perched on the cliffs, I guess they must have chicks by now.

Tuesday April 8th

A high and ebbing tide. Blue sky between fluffy clouds. Cold! At the Peregrine Watch a crowd of people had their necks craned skywards watching a Peregrine, high, high up, against a grey cloud. The bird must have been 1000 feet up. It circled against the cloud for a long while, then slipped off over the Suspension Bridge, still pretty high up. Another bird appeared a little lower, and above us, I watched it and thought that it was a Seagull, but suddenly it started to dive towards The Gully ... and folded its wings like a raptor! Then disappeared below the trees. What on earth was it?
The fox was curled up in the brambles below the cliff, difficult to see until you knew where to look. A peregrine landed over in one of the oaks. I left for home and brunch. The pictures were taken by Chris Jones a week ago.

Sunday 6th April

Winter has returned with a vengence, this morning was bitterly cold, and the Downs had patches of snow, in the sunshine, when it appeared, the temperature was pleasant. At Sea Walls, I watched a small group of Redshank busily picking the mud. The 'photo is of a pretty little red-purple flower just behind the railings - can someone give it a name? Any idea Geraldine!?
A red fox came out below the Peregrine Watch cliff and went to sleep curled up among the scrub. On the estuary there were some small groups of Redshank, occasionally they get up and fly, low over the water, their white wing flashes giving them a very distinctive appearance. A Peregrine appeared in a tree beside a little clearing opposite the PW, the Raven was sitting slightly to the right of its nest again. At one stage a Raven soared above Leigh Woods and the nest. I heard of reports of visitors to the Gorge - and Osprey yesterday, and a Merlin. There are some large Sparrowhawks around.

Saturday 5th April

From Sea Walls I could see a dozen or more Redshank down river on the mud, they are in larger groups now, rather than single birds separated by expanses of mud. Over the end of the Gully a pair of Sparrowhawks were chasing each other, the tryst was split up as a Peregrine glided past, and on down river. At the Peregrine watch we could hear a Chiffchaff and a Wren, over Leigh Woods I saw three Geese, the Raven was sitting first on, then to the right of its nest. A Cormorant appeared to almost hover, high above Leigh Woods (surely not!), and a bright, red brown topped Kestrel passed us. There were Mallard down on the river, with Lesser Black Backed, Herring and Common Gulls. I didn't see any Black Headed Gulls, they seem to have left the Downland over the last couple of weeks. This was a very cold morning, and it became even colder as the sun went behind clouds. Along Saville Road the horse chesnut trees are greener each morning.

Tuesday 1st April, Thursday 3rd April

Tuesday was a beautiful bright morning which brought two red foxes out onto the grass and rocks beneath the Peregrine Watch cliffs. To see this part of the cliff base you need to lean forwards over the railings, not easy, and rather dangerous! Chris Jones was there with his camera, the intrepid photographer went right up to the edge and shot a fine set of pictures of the two foxes playing and sitting on the grass. Are there any cubs this year, or did we see the vixen and her dog, or a couple of vixen down there? One, very red fox, looks like the vixen that we watched last summer, sitting with her cubs in the sunshine among the nearby brambles.

Thursday. As on Tuesday, the Peregrines are flying around on the side of Leigh Woods, coming into the oaks, and to the cliff beneath the Watch. However today was a day to see Ravens, four of them. When I arrived a Raven was standing over on the side of its nest, a little later the Raven pair flew into the top of the oak above the Peregrine, and ... the Peregrine disappeared. Then two more Ravens appeared, flying high above the trees, two disappeared off over Leigh Woods, two came our way, gliding high above us, majestic birds, even now with a fearsome reputation in myth and song,
Death like a raven is there at the feast
Ruffle his feathers and drive him to flight
(Nancy Kerr "Break Your Fall" on Station House with James Fagan and Robert Harbron, 2008)
Could a Peregrine kill a Raven? I have no doubt, especially after reading John Baker's account of the demise of a Great Black Backed Gull after a Peregrine stoop - The gull buckled like hot metal. Its head jerked and flopped. The falcon had struck it in the neck ... from a hundred feet up, the gull slid down quite slowly and emptied itself out upon the shingle. The falcon dropped beside it and began to feed. (p172).

As I passed the Peregrine Watch on my first circuit of the Downs, I also had a glimpse of a large brown raptor, flying level with the top of the Gorge , I stopped, but lost it. Buzzard or possibly that Goshawk again?

Monday, 31st March

A couple of Redshank were walking the mud opposite Sea Walls, taking a peck at the mud, then overtaking her companion, this repeated so that he and she passed and re-passed each other (I assume they were a male and female, there seems to be little difference between the sexes - except to another Redshank). At the Peregrine Watch I could see about a dozen Redshank on the same patch of mud, nothing like the numbers I saw yesterday. A flashing glimpse of the female Peregrine as she came in under the cliff, that was all else today.

Sunday 30th March - 2nd posting

Chris Jones was up at the Peregrine Watch this morning, and he kindly took this picture of the female Peregrine over in the oak tree. It is difficult to see that it is a Peregrine, but much better than my camera could manage! If you click on the image you will get a slightly larger view.

Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, March 16,27,30

The clocks went forward today, Sunday, so I reached the Gorge around 10.45am. The estuary mud was lined with Redshank, several dozen of them, picking and hopping around on the mud, their red legs glinted in the sunlight. At one time I thought that there was an Oyster Catcher with them, but no, just the angle of the light darkening the bird's feathers. The Redshank were scattered in pairs and singly, mostly on the Cliff side, and from the Peregrine Watch as far as I could see from Sea Walls towards Horseshoe Bend. Some river boats left the docks on the ebbing tide, starting down river; as the boats approached each group of Redshank, the lead boat acted like a broom, and the Redshank rose from the mud, initially in ones and twos, then settling a little way ahead, then moving on down river as the boat approached again, until the whole large flock was pushed into the air and on down towards Avonmouth. The white flashes on their wings reflected the sunshine, the flock nearly covered the river surface as they flew low over the water. I looked around at the many other people at the Gorge edge, but nobody seemed to have noticed!

The sky above the Gorge was no less interesting. The male Peregrine (tiercel or is that just a falconry term?), was flying up and down the Gorge, skirting the trees, then at one time coming in to the female sitting over in the oak tree, he tried to mate, a flutter of wings as the two birds seemed to join in my glasses. Oh, for a powerful 'scope. The same had happened last Friday, the mating, if it was such, was all over in a flash. Yes, all males are the same! There were some other raptors around, at first I thought that they were Sparrowhawks, but then one was mobbed by one of the Ravens - it was nearly the same size. A Goshawk! A pair of Goshawks? It was too large for a Sparrowhawk, and I associate a Sparrowhawk with much lower flight habits - around the trees rather than high in the sky. The juvenile Peregrine (a female from last year) was also in the air, her breast feathers a distinct brown as opposed to the light buff colour of the older female still sitting in the Oak.

At the rim of the Gorge a crowd of people gathered, and at the Peregrine Watch a wren sang!

Thursday was also a good day, without the Redshank, but with the mating Peregrines - and add to the sightings, some Cormorants flying up to the docks. Wednesday was a bit non-descript, but the Peregrines wre over in the Oak.

Monday 24th March

I visited Ashton Court with Joanna, Chris, Caroline and Tom and the children. Without the cars on most of the driveways, it is much improved, but parking on the road passing the front of the house should be stopped. Weren't the sequoia trees removed 'to improve the view of the house'! On the way, and just after the Suspension Bridge I passed a Buzzard, wheeling low above the houses. Afterwards, on the way home, I visited the Peregrine Watch, the Peregrines were perched over in the oaks, but were moving around among the branches. I saw them once flying nearby. The ravens are busy on their nest.

Monday, Wednesday 17th 19th March

My visits to the Peregrine Watch and the Downs have been less frequent during the last week - partly weather (cold, rainy and windy), also because I needed to give my allotment a dose of manure! On Sunday 16th I walked past the Peregrine Watch, and saw one of the birds fly by under the cliff, the same happened several times on Wednesday (afternoon). As usual the sighting of the bird takes less than a few seconds as the glide past underneath the cliff. Economical flight! They never seem to move their wings when they pass. Monday was notable as a very high tide, so the water was nearly onto the cycle path. There was also an almost total lack of birds, on the water or in the air. Othertimes the Jackdaws are very active, landing in large groups in and around the Jackdaw Tree, then taking off and flying noisily about the Gorge.

Wednesday, Thursday, 12, 13th March

Wednesday: There was a large (100-ish) flock of Starlings on the Downland beside Saville Road, and the Jackdaw flock was on the grassland beside Circular Road. Not surprising in view of the wind coming up from Avonmouth, it would have been brave Jackdaw that tried to perch in the eponymous tree! I 'think' I could see two Peregrines hiding behind the branches of the oak.
Thursday: Calm, light winds, with high cloud. A Cormorant flew over Circular Road as I came up to Sea Walls, this time there was enough mud for a few Redshank. The tide was coming in; a man with a lurcher dog was examining a little red kayak that had come up river with the storm, I noticed it yesterday. In the oak two Peregrines sat, one a couple of metres above the other, the lower one with a grey back to me, the other with a white chest and black mask. The lower one turned around, and since she looked larger, this was the female. Courting time and Magpies, Jackdaws, Rooks and Crows appear in pairs.

Tuesday 11th March

The spring tide was so high that it nearly overflowed onto the cycle path, but at least this will clear some of the wood chippings! This was also a very wet morning for cycling. A large flock of Jackdaws was circling around the Jackdaw tree, as always they are in pairs, even in flight; a couple of dozen landing in the tree and surrounding bushes. They are very tame, taking little notice of me on a bicycle.

The white blob over in the oak looked a little unfamiliar, then it flew down to join its mate in one of the ivy covered trees - a Wood Pigeon not a Peregrine! I wondered what would have happened if one of the Peregrines had turned up and found a pigeon on its perch ...

Sunday 9th March

Both Ravens were visiting their nest, and the two Peregrines were perched over in the Oak tree, just a short distance apart. The Peregrines flew off over towards Bristol whilst I was watching, at around 9.50am. The tide was high (a spring tide), but just starting to recede, so no waders.
I have just read a fascinating article by Ed Drewitt and Nick Dixon (Diet and prey selection of urban-dwelling Peregrine Falcons in southwest England, E.J.Drewiit and N. Dixon, British Birds, February 2008, 101, 58-67) about the diet and prey of local and other SW Peregrines. An amazing variety of prey birds were identified over a period of nine years. Perhaps of greatest interest was the observation that the Peregrines are hunting at night, or at dusk and dawn. Despite seeing the Gorge Peregrines chasing the Abbots Leigh Wood Pigeons, and occasionally harrying the local Jackdaws, it looks as if these local birds (to the Peregrine cliff nest), are relatively safe!

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 5-7th March

On Wednesday the two Peregrines were clearly visible over in the oak trees, for the other two days they may have been sitting behind the bare branches, but it was difficult to tell. They also seemed to be in nearly identical p[ositions on the latter two days. The Jackdaws have been falling around the sky in strong winds, and the spindly red legs of the Redshank have become more visible in the sunlight. On Friday morning a Curlew accompanied a Redshank in a little circular inlet in the river mud opposite Sea Walls. The difference in size between these two waders is striking, the Redshank half the size of the Curlew. The Ravens seem to be nest building.

Monday, Tuesday, 3rd, 4th March

I have commented before that recognising birds is a problem when there are several species to choose, and these look all rather similar, and they are 100 metres or more below. These two mornings were very bright and cold, with a blue sky, so seeing was good.

Monday there were two birds, moving together as if a pair, this morning a solitary wader. The puzzle was Redshank or Greenshank (or Knot, or ... )? This time the flight feathers did no look like those of a Redshank, and I could not get a good view of the legs, which also looked a bit short for a 'Shank. The bill did no look right for a Greenshank. The mud is thick and soft below Sea Walls, so even a small wader can get its legs messy. Add to this, the change from winter to summer plumage, and juvenile and sex differences ... They could have been Knot!

On both mornings I thought that I saw a Sparrowhawk, first off Circular Road, then this morning at the side of Ladies Mile. But, was it a Kestral? Simply it had a single, prominent bar on its tail, the tail looked rather square and long when perched, a buff red brown, lightly speckled chest, and a greyer head. No, I come back to a Sparrowhawk, but with rather indistinct tail bands. The bird was perched on an Ash stump up the tree, peering around (I got a long hard stare from it), something that Kestrals sometimes do when hunting, but it was also flitting around, like a Sparrowhawk when hunting. (At the end of the month, the uninitiated could well mistake a Cuckoo for a hawk!)

A beautiful red vixen with a neat white tip to her tail was exploring the shrubs below the Peregrine Watch, last year we saw her with her cubs in a similar position.

Wednesday February 27th

I had a fine view of one of the Ravens as it left Leigh Woods and came over towards Sea Walls, the size of these birds is impressive, especially when compared to one of the Crows that tried to mob it. This Raven took no notice of the Crow! The other Raven was beside the nest. There were numerous Black Headed Gulls on the river, this time with a slack tide. Were those Little Gulls that I saw yesterday - or just Black Headed Gulls? At the Peregrine Watch one of the Peregrines was sitting with its grey back to me in the Oak tree.

Tuesday 26th February

The tide was high, a large flock of Gulls was drifting down river as the tide started to go out. There must have been a couple of hundred birds, some looked smaller than others, almost like little pieces of paper floating on the muddy water. Occasionally some of them got off the water and flew around a little, then returned. They were too far off to identify clearly, especially with the wind blowing in my face. I wondered what some of the gulls were, could they be Little Gulls en route to their Russian breeding colonies? The high winds of the last few days could have driven them from their Irish Sea wintering grounds. They remained on the river, drifting down out of sight towards Horseshoe Bend.
There was a Peregrine over in the Oak, he/she got up and flew out over the river, then back to his/her perch. It was probably the male bird, no sign of its mate today.

The wood chips left on the path opposite are starting to change colour, going brown as the wood tannins oxidise. The rain will have helped this process. I still object strongly to the sloppy behaviour of the contractors - and those who allowed it to happen.

Sunday 24th February

Around the Downs the wind seemed to attack me from every angle, but at Sea Walls and the Peregrine Watch everything was quite calm; a big contrast to the last few journeys. The tide was high and just starting to go down, so there were no 'mud birds' that I could see. A Sparrow Hawk flew over opposite the Peregrine Watch, and the Peregrine couple arrived around 11.30am and perched over in the oak tree, sitting much closer to each other than I have seen until now. The larger female was side on to us, the male showed his white front. Around the Peregrine Watch the Jackdaws gave a fine display of unison flight!

Friday 22nd February

The three wind turbines at Avonmouth were rotating rapidly, at nearly 1 rps I think. I saw one Redshank, and (I think) a Peregrine sheltering behind the oak tree branches. Lots of Gulls, Rooks, Crows and Jackdaws were on the Downs grassland. It was too windy and too cold to linger very long.

Thursday 21st February

The wind was so strong at Sea Walls that I had difficulty holding my binoculars still even when held hard against the railings. I think I could see some Redshank on the mud, and they are pairing up for the spring. Just as I was about to cycle on, a bird flew over the gorge, at first I took it for a Cormorant, then realised it was some form of goose, but the time I had my glasses onto it it was too far away to identify. The wind at the Peregrine Watch was also very strong, a Peregrine was perched over in the oak tree, and the Ravens are starting to take an interest in their old nest.

The contractor working on the railway - and distributing wood chippings all over the sides of the cycle track and river bank is May Gurney. I'm informing various people who may be able to do something about this behaviour.

Further to this comment, the May Gurney web site at http://www.maygurney.co.uk/corporate/corporate.php
carriers the following messages:
- Minimising our impact on the environment and promoting sustainability and good environmental practices.
- Having a positive influence within the communities in which we operate.
- Take our environmental responsibilities seriously and be aware of the
impact of our operations on local communities.

Empty sentiments in this case!

Someone needs to contact them (needless to say their web site only has 'phone and address contacts, no email). Their Avonmouth branch is at Avon Riverside Estate,
Victoria Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, BS11 9DB, Tel: 01179 823756, Fax: 01179 820498

Tuesday February 12th, Wednesday February 20th

On Tuesday cycling was a bitterly cold experience, and I only paused long enough to see a lone Redshank on the mud. The very cold weather kept me away until today, when there was no frost, but a rather cold fog which cleared as I came up to the Gorge. I spotted a Black Headed Gull with his summer cap on on the grass by Saville Road, then on the estuary mud there were others. On the other side of the river by Sea Walls a couple of Oyster Catchers were feeding, their red bills like the red legs of some neighbouring Redshank. Oyster Catchers, like Curlew are quite a rare sight. On the mud below the Peregrine Watch were a couple of Cormorants, they flew off up-river, then had second thoughts, wheeled and headed downstream with the tide.

A bunch of cowboy workman are busy clearing trees from the side of the railway line opposite. The trees are being turned into chippings, and rather than being collected and disposed of properly, are being left in piles all over the side of the cycle track and down on the river bank. Who on earth employed this lot? They should be told to clear up the mess, it ruins the view of the Gorge from the Peregrine Watch, and probably will remain for the rest of the summer. Chippings take a long time to decay. Maybe this is something the putative "Friends of the Downs & Avon Gorge" should comment on!

Monday February 11th

My constitutional bike ride was taken in the early afternoon, and I arrived at the Peregrine Watch around 2.30pm. With brilliant sunshine coming from low over Leigh Woods it was nearly impossible to see anything in the Gorge clearly. There were no Peregrines easily visible over in the woods. From Sea Walls I did spot one lone Redshank picking through the mud and rocks.

Sunday 10th February

The tide was high at 10.30am when I reached the Peregrine Watch, so no waders were around, there was some mud when I left for home at 11. The female Peregrine was perched over in the oak tree, occasionally she moved about, she only flew off at the end of my visit, disappearing into the mist around Nightingale Valley.

Friday 8th February

At 10am the river was higher and starting to flow rapidly to Avonmouth. There were three Redshank scattered on the mud opposite Sea Walls, at the Peregrine Watch there were no Peregrines perched opposite. No sign of yesterdays small wader puzzle. Some additional thoughts though, prompted by the Editors comment.

I tried to see the bill shape but could not. The top plumage was very dark, and the bird had a white undercarriage. From the top of Sea Walls, for a bird pretty well underneath me it is very difficult to see leg colour or flecks on the breast. My binoculars are 10x42 Opticrons. This is the second time I have seen this bird in about the same place, the first sighting made me certain it was not another Redshank. The latter are quite common on the estuary mud below Sea Walls as today's blog evinces.

Wednesday 6th February

Identifying birds is always a problem. This morning I watched what I thought at first was a Kestral, then a Sparrowhawk, finally deciding it was a Peregrine! I first saw the bird being mobbed by some local Crows, then it left them and started to climb, just how far up was not evident until I took the glasses off it. It was high, high up above Bridge Valley Road, then it went into a stoop - as only a Peregrine can. The two Peregrines were perched over in the Oaks opposite all this time, which I why at first I did not think "Peregrine".

My second identification is still a bit problematic.

At Sea Walls, immediately under the cliff among the rocks, mud, and gulls I spotted a small wader with a very dark back and a white underside. From above it was not possible to see much more. However this time there was also a Redshank nearby for comparison, and this new bird was considerably smaller. In my RSPB Handbook of British Birds there are a few choices: Dunlin or Knot in winter plumage, then Green Sandpiper or a Common Sandpiper. On balance I think I prefer Green Sandpiper as a slightly more common winter bird than its Common cousin. The Knot and Dunlin are much, much more common, but the winter plumage is darker. Has anybody reading this a better identification?

Tuesday 5th February

This morning's weather was a mixture of sunshine and showers, I just about managed to dodge the larger showers. Coming up to the Peregrine Watch along Circular Road a bird with half white wings flew over the road, at first I thought that it was a Magpie, on stopping I was amazed to see a Crow! I have not seen him before, though there was a Jackdaw with a lot of white feathers. The Crow has white wings from about his elbow joints, the rest is black so far as I could see. On the rest of the Downs a large flock of Black Headed Gulls were feeding on the grass, some are starting to loose their 'headphones' and gain their black caps.

The low tide brought the gulls and ducks out to the waters edge, I could see a few Redshank, and one came in to land immediately below Sea Walls just as I was watching a Curlew probing the mud. A very fine view of the Curlew indeed since he was close under the cliff on the mud.

Further on at the Peregrine Watch (I did not see the Crow on my second time past the Watch), I could see the two Peregrines over in the Oak tree, one with her grey back to me and partly hidden behind the tree branches, the other with (his, I think), white chest. He was above and slightly to the right of his mate. I did not stop too long as a raincloud came into view over Leigh Woods. By the time I got home it had caught up with me.

Wednesday 30th January, Monday 4th February

Last Tuesday I walked by the Peregrine Watch, and there were two Peregrines perched over in the Oak trees opposite, one flew briefly round the gorge and over the river, to land back in the same place. The next day when I cycled past there was a single bird in the tree. Today (Monday) a female Peregrine took off from the cliff below, flew round in a big circle, and back to the cliff. maybe all small signs that they are starting to nest. There was a Curlew and a few Redshank on the estuary mud this morning, sharing the mud with a large group of Gulls.

Friday, Sunday, Monday, 25th, 27th, 28th January

With a high tide (just on the turn) most bird activity is in the air, or for the Peregrines over in the trees opposite. On all three days there were Peregrines roosting in the oaks opposite, on Friday and Monday two, and Sunday one. They get up and fly occasionally, either returning to the oak roost, or coming over to land underneath the Peregrine Watch. You have to be quick to catch sight of them! This morning one of the two birds was just visible from Sea Walls. On Sunday a pair of Carrion Crows could be seen pestering a Buzzard over towards Sea Walls, they chased it over towards Leigh Woods, leaving it be once it reached the woodland. The Buzzard worked its way over the tree line, and then reappeared up by Nightingale Valley, where it was chased by another couple of Crows! Other birds during the three days - Mallard and Gulls on the river, Cormorants flying up river, then Magpies, Pigeons, Crows and Gulls on the Downs.

Wednesday 23rd January

This was a very dull morning with a heavy layer of cloud, the air was damp, but at least it was not raining. Large groups of Black Headed and Common Gulls, with the occasional Herring and Black Headed Gull were lined up on the mud, they occasionally rose in a large flock to fly over the water. I could see a solitary Redshank on the mud and small rocks below Sea Walls, no courting today. Neither were there any Peregrines visible, flying or perched in the oak. Maybe I needed to stay longer for a viewing?

Monday & Tuesday, 21st & 22nd January

Monday was so wet that when I reached Sea Walls I could see very little through the raindrops on my glasses, just enough to make out the forms of Gulls on the mud, and vague smaller brown shapes which I took to be Redshank. The Peregrine Watch was even wetter!
Tuesday was bright and clear with a watery sun. At Sea Walls as I peered immediately over the cliff I noticed two Redshank among the rocks on the mud below. Courting! The male all puffed up and walking round to attract the female, she looked rather unconcerned, but he enticed her into the water and with a flutter of white from their flight feathers, mated; afterwards they walked away from each other picking in the mud as they separated. Spring must be near. At the Peregrine Watch there were three Redshank on the mud below, it looked as if they were also playing the mating game. A Peregrine was over in the oak opposite, he (a small bird) flew over and below our cliff, then a little later reappeared again in the oak. A Kestral came and sat on a dead tree at the base of the cliff. A really beautiful bird with black tips to its wings and a beech-brown plumage.

A good day for my 200th posting on this blog.

Saturday, Monday to Wednesday, January 12th, 14th to 16th

The weather has been atrocious so I have been lucky to get any rides in at all. With a full river and little mud I don't see many Redshank, however they appeared on the small areas of mud made during a retreating tide, and, better still, I was able to see them fly. Usually they are pecking the mud and do little flying; I was lucky and twice caught several birds in my binoculars, and in flight when they show a beautiful white flash on their wings and under-belly.

At the Peregrine Watch, especially a little later in the morning, a female has taken up a perch in an oak tree just beside a little clearing between the two quarries opposite. The tree is slightly left of twin ivy-covered trees. I wonder if this is where she digests her kill in the morning? When there is sunlight her breast looks like a lantern and draws ones eye too her. She was present on three of the four days, and once left the perch to fly over to the cliff under the Watch, then a few minutes later, flying back followed by another Peregrine. The other disappeared into the trees, and despite a lot of searching, I could not find it.
The Jackdaws are very noisy at present, and (very obviously) mostly paired up, Gulls, Cormorants and Mallard are plentiful, so the stop off is usually worth it. Cold and wet drive one away.