Wednesday 24th June

I saw one (or more) of the Kestrel chicks this morning, it came to the edge of the nest and flapped its wings, then, on some occasions for the next ten minutes or so, a small head was visible peering from the rock face. The chicks must be close to fledging, so let's hope that they can get safely from their nest when they start to fly. Unlike another young Kestrel from the Create Centre roof. We took that youngster to Secret World on Tuesday.

At the Peregrine Watch one of the young birds flew over the river from the nest site, and flew around the tops of the trees for a while. They practice their flying and catching skills on tree tops - when there are no pigeons around to chase. The young Peregrine was joined by one of its parents. One of them ended up perching in one of the dead trees opposite. Home to breakfast and a kipper!

Monday 22nd

I did not see a Kestrel this morning, but only stayed at Black Rocks to watch for about 20 minutes split over two visits. Whilst I was waiting a very small bird flitted along through the bushes at the top of the cliff, and perched among the perpetual peas, its greenish brown underparts and very small size - less than a blue tit - leads me to identifying a Willow Warbler. A Peregrine was just visible as a small white speck on the back end of the nest, on my second visit the 'speck' had disappeared - so it really was a Peregrine! A peregrine was perched over on a dead tree in the wood behind the Raven's nest, it moved along to another tree top whilst I cycled around the Downs.

Sunday June 21st

The Portway was closed for the the 16th Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride. From Black Rocks all that could be heard was the swish of bicycle tyres! I stayed to watch for the Kestrels, and was rewarded with two visits from the female. The cliff around the nest has white dropping stains, so there must be young in the nest. At the top of Walcombe Slade I surprised a Green Woodpecker, its yellow rump disappeared rapidly across the Slade into an ash tree. The Peregrine Watch had a large group of birders with a telescopes and a tent - avoided them and went along the cliff path for a little way, from which vantage point I could see a Peregrine sitting on the Raven's nest. All in all a very pleasant ride.