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.