Thursday, October 23, 2008

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 22, 2008

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.