Wednesday, Friday 21st, 23rd October

On Wednesday afternoon I cycled over the Downs and over to Blackwells to pick up a book. On the way over I stopped at Sea Walls, it was low tide, a number of Redshank were feeding on the mud. A Cormorant flew upstream, scattering a group of gulls en route, it barged past one of the gulls and nearly knocked it from the sky! I saw some very unusual behaviour by a Raven. The bird was gliding around in the Gorge thermals, it scarcely moved a wing, but every now and then folded its wings, and tipped sideways slightly, going into a short peregrine-like swoop. This flight pattern went on for five to ten minutes. Then over by the Peregrine Watch I saw two Ravens, one was perched on their nest at the top of the quarry. There was no sign of a Peregrine.
On Friday I completed my "10 mile" trip for the first time in a couple of weeks. The tide was high and still coming in. Apart from some friendly Jackdaws and the usual Wood Pigeons and Gulls, I noticed few other birds.