Monday 26th November

An ebb tide, but with very little mud, there was one lone Redshank picking the mud at the river edge. A small flock of about 20 birds flew over the Peregrine Watch, didn't look like Starlings, could be Fieldfare?

Sunday November 25th

Warm, and with a light blue, hazy sky. I was able to wear shorts for the first time in a couple of weeks! The tide was going out, but there were not many birds on the mud, however a small group of four Redshank were running around on the mud opposite and just up river from Sea Walls. They looked as if they were playing tag! I wonder if the bird-courting season is upon us already? It is unusual to see a group of Redshank, usually they are well separated on the mud, and at the waters edge. No sign of any raptors this morning.

Last Thursday saw a meeting of the (now to be named), "Friends of Avon Gorge & Bristol Downs", the meeting was largely concerned with finding a voice and purpose for the group. My own feelings largely concern the impact of traffic on the roads between Stoke Road and the Gorge, something I see a lot of from my cycle rides! This morning saw another 'boy racer' accelerating around Circular Road, last Wednesday I was overtaken at the junction of Rockleaze and Downleaze by a white car doing at least 60mph. It goes on, with other idiots (often in large white vans(!), taking corners whilst conversing on their mobile 'phones, and people leaving 'wheelie marks', rubbish and firework carcases after their night revels. Then we have the new phenomenon of Zoo parking appearing beside Ladies Mile (actually a kilometer). Me, I would close a lot of the area to motor traffic of any type! My own view is that we should leave the whole area as un-interfered with as possible - and exclude cars! The Portway is very attractive on the few occasions it has to be closed for work on the side rocks, or for an event such as the half-marathon or Great Bristol Cycle Ride.

Thursday 22nd November

At Sea Walls, I picked up a piece of blackthorn on my front wheel, as I took the thorn out there was a tell-tale swish of air from the tyre. Luckily it is a fairly slow puncture, and (I hope) not a portent of more problems now that I'm riding a hybrid bicycle (A Dawes Discovery 501 bought on October 10th). They have more vulnerable tyres than my old mountain bike, but is much faster and easier ti ride. The tyre inflation lasted from Sea Walls nearly as far as Redland Green so I did not have to walk too far.

Before the puncture I did spot a large number of gulls on the mud, and several Redshank, but, by the time I reached the Peregrine Watch I decided I needed to hurry home.

Wednesday 21st November

A couple of Greater Black backed Gulls were walking, side by side, along the mud below Sea Walls, and I could see their beaks opening and closing as if they were talking, their back black stripey tail feathers waddled from side to side. All they needed was hands behind their backs ... enough of anthropomorphism, but it is sometimes irresistible! There were many birds on the mud today, half a dozen or more Redshank, a Heron, other Gulls - Common, Herring and Black Headed, a Cormorant in the water, then standing Batman-sign-like digesting its food. At the Peregrine Watch a juvenile Buzzard was flying among the trees, he landed in a tree, when I looked for him again he had gone. The two Ravens were perched just above their nest, then flew down river.

Tuesday November 20th

The morning was damp and cloudy, but with a misty sunshine. Some of the Horse Chestnuts on Saville Road, and the Beech trees inside Wills Hall grounds, still have a lot of golden leaves, and in the Gorge the Silver Birch trees are still yellow with their leaves. At Sea Walls there were several Redshank, a Heron and numerous Gulls and Mallard. I watched one of the Redshank for a while, it was walking up and down the mud feeding, and every now and again going into the river to wash its beak, at least that is what it looked like. There were Redshank every 100 meters or so this morning, they never seem to gather in groups like the other birds, always solitary.

Saturday and Monday, 17th and 19th November

The weather has turned, with both cold and rain, so I'm in long trousers for my cycling! It has been high tide on the river for the last few visits, but the mud is starting to reappear. On Saturday I watched a Redshank having a bath at the river edge under Sea Walls, flapping in the water, with the white flashes on its wings, and the red legs appearing at times. There were Redshank today, but this morning I had to hurry past the Peregrine Watch in the pouring rain.

November 7,8,13,14,15

I only spotted one Peregrine during this time, she was flying low over the back of Sea Walls, evidently trying to flush out some of the pigeons that perch in the trees on the gorge side. She swooped with such speed that I almost lost her from my glasses, then the next I saw was a few minutes later as she sped by under the Peregrine Watch. What speed! It is high tide at present, so there was relatively little to see for the whole five days: a heron flying low over the water, and landing near the storm drain, as he landed another got up. They are solitary birds. Then there was a kestrel flying past, and causing some consternation among the Jackdaws. This morning we had the heaviest frost of the autumn, so I did not linger.