The Black Rock Kestrels both appeared from their nest a few minutes after I arrived around 9am. One disappeared back into the nest whilst the other sat on the rock face a few feet below the nest. A Mallard drake appeared from underneath the cliff, flying round in an arc, and disappearing back again! The sitting Kestrel rose from its perch on the cliff, hovered briefly and disappeared after the duck! A few minutes later the Kestrel disappeared back into the nest hole - but I was too slow to see if it carried anything - a duck chick? I know that ducks nest in daft places, but up on Black Rock cliffs near a Kestrel nest?!! Anyway it was a drake, and I don't think they sit on the eggs at all.
At the Peregrine Watch I could see a Peregrine perched on the side of the, now empty, Raven's nest. It moved occasionally, preened itself, but did not fly.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday - May 19th, May 26th
A long gap without rides or posts! Hospitals, holidays, weather all kept me away from the Downs on my bike. I did manage several walks around the whole Downland.
On one walk I discovered a lone Sorbus wilmottiana - Wilmott's Whitebeam planted in the border leading onto the Suspension Bridge. I am incredulous that Bristol City Council (The Downs Committee) are perfectly prepared to sacrifice 10% of this trees total world population (42 trees - maybe 43 with the one by the bridge) to goats in Walcombe Slade. See: The distribution and population sizes of the rare English endemic Sorbus wilmottiana E. F. Warburg,Wilmott’s Whitebeam (Rosaceae).
On another visit a month ago I made another discovery - a kestrel nest on the cliff face of Black Rock. It is beside a large patch of ivy, and hidden by a small dead bush. On several visits I have seen the birds going in and out, circling above the quarry, chasing, and being chased by the local Jackdaws and Crows. This last tuesday both birds left the nest and flew rapidly towards Walcombe Slade. I waited about 15 minutes, but they did not return, so the vole catching cannot have been easy!
Last Tuesday I met a bird watcher who reported seeing a female Goshawk going up and down the Gorge. Lucky! lucky! During my occasional visits over the last month I spotted the Peregrines on several occasions; they are reported to have chicks. The Ravens nesting opposite have left. How many Raven chicks fledged this year?
On one walk I discovered a lone Sorbus wilmottiana - Wilmott's Whitebeam planted in the border leading onto the Suspension Bridge. I am incredulous that Bristol City Council (The Downs Committee) are perfectly prepared to sacrifice 10% of this trees total world population (42 trees - maybe 43 with the one by the bridge) to goats in Walcombe Slade. See: The distribution and population sizes of the rare English endemic Sorbus wilmottiana E. F. Warburg,Wilmott’s Whitebeam (Rosaceae).
On another visit a month ago I made another discovery - a kestrel nest on the cliff face of Black Rock. It is beside a large patch of ivy, and hidden by a small dead bush. On several visits I have seen the birds going in and out, circling above the quarry, chasing, and being chased by the local Jackdaws and Crows. This last tuesday both birds left the nest and flew rapidly towards Walcombe Slade. I waited about 15 minutes, but they did not return, so the vole catching cannot have been easy!
Last Tuesday I met a bird watcher who reported seeing a female Goshawk going up and down the Gorge. Lucky! lucky! During my occasional visits over the last month I spotted the Peregrines on several occasions; they are reported to have chicks. The Ravens nesting opposite have left. How many Raven chicks fledged this year?
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