Wednesday 8th July

I watched one of the young Kestrels on the rim of the quarry, perched on a bare ivy branch. It was just hidden from the path, a few meters away from the traffic, and noticed by nobody except me. It preened, fluffed its feathers, spread and stretched its wings, hunkered down in the breeze, moved its head around like an owl - with no body movement - and stayed put for at least an hour. I went over to the Peregrine Watch and came back the bird was still there. It moved, but only down to a ledge below to join one of its siblings. So, where are the other two youngsters? I did spot a Raven sitting on the fence near the Austrian pines. Would a Raven attack one of the Kestrel chicks? If it was injured, maybe, but otherwise, probably not.
A large (Welsh?) school party was watching one of their number dressed up as a Peregrine (quite realistically!) at the Peregrine Watch. I wonder if they got to see the real thing this morning? I didn't.

Sunday, Monday, 5th, 6th July

Four Windhover chicks hatched - or so I was informed by the 'Watchers at the Peregrine Cliff'. I only ever managed to see one outside the nest before they fledged, but on Sunday all four could be seen flitting and squatting on the rock slabs at the top of Black Rocks Quarry, and then along in the trees at the top corner of the Gully. On Monday I watched two of them, the others, nor their parents were around. They sit fluffed up sometimes, at other times they waddle over the rock face searching for grubs and other insects. Their parents must keep them fed for at least a month. They practice flying and hovering over the side of the cliffs, and are not too worried about people; I watched one this morning about three meters from someone by the railing - but he was blind to the youngster! On Sunday a Peregrine flew high above them, then today a Buzzard flapped over the river nearby, then flew overhead. The Buzzard was troubled with Crows and the Ravens, and a couple of Gulls. I guess that the raptors, Crows and Ravens are all a danger to the young Kestrels. They are well above the Portway traffic, but could be attracted down there. Wish them luck everybody; they won't harm the racing Pigeons I saw being released from the Sea Walls Plateau this morning.

My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, - the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!

On the estuary the tide was ebbing, only Common, Herring, Lesser Black Backed, and Black Headed Gulls are visible on the mud at present. No Redshank.