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.