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.