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.

Sunday June 28th

I cycled through the town and down beside Harbourside to Cumberland Basin to see if I could find the nest that the young Kestrel fell from. No luck on the Create Center ledges, but I'm told they may be on the other old warehouse. There was a Buzzard flying above Ashton Court, a Cormorant passed me just below the Suspension Bridge, and below the Peregrine Watch I could see the grey back of a Peregrine perched on the cliff face. Along under Black Rock Quarry, amid several groups of climbers, a young Kestrel was perched on the cliff just outside the nest. I hope that some of the local Crows, or even Jackdaws don't pester it. There was no sign of any parents. The tide was coming in, carrying a few Black Headed and Herring Gulls up river with it. When I got to Sea Walls from Shirehampton the Matthew was making its stately passage down river - motor driven though! From the cliff top I could see one Kestrel youngster just below the nest, sitting with its tail out and face into the rock. The birders along by the Peregrine Watch had a 'scope trained on the Kestrels, and I'm informed there are four chicks.

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.

Sunday June14th

Des sent me this picture of a Bee Orchid. Thanks Des. Today the Downs were beautifully quiet, no traffic, and the lights at the corner of Stoke Road even changed as I approached. A Mistle Thrush was busy on the grass beside Saville Road, and was still at it when I came round again 20 minutes later. Normally the bird would have been scared off by lots of people and cars. Today was the Race for Life, with thousands of ladies in pink running their 5kM around the Downs in support of cancer charities. The link is to Joanna's Pecsaetan Morris in Sheffield. They danced the 5 kM in 52 minutes, and raised £1600+ with their dancing.

I stopped at 10am beside Sea Walls, and stayed to watch the Kestrel nest on the Black Rocks cliff. It was 35 minutes before the birds appeared, firstly the female appeared, hovered briefly, flew in circles, then disappeared into Walcombe Slade. She was followed a few minutes later by the male, he perched on the nest entrance then flew off, also to Walcombe Slade. I left as the runners started to pass in their hundreds, about 11.15am. There was no sign of the Kestrels returning. So how many chicks? If the adults are still about they cannot have fledged, also they don't seem too busy, so maybe only one chick? Can someone say?

June 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th

I'm getting lax in my postings, and forgot last week! The Peregrines can be seen flying and perching opposite, sometimes on the now vacant Raven's nest, other times in the banana tree (a small birch tree just above and to the left of the Raven's nest). I heard that there were two Peregrine chicks, but that after someone went down to see them preparatory to trying to ring them, that there was only one?! I also heard that two rings were then placed on the remaining unfortunate chick! Couple that with a report I had today (Thursday, June 11th when I did not cycle), that someone had been around and put small numbered bamboo posts beside all the bee orchids. Why ring? Why label? Why do we interfere with wildness?

The Kestrel nest is still intact so far as I can see, and the parents can be seen coming back and forth. They must have chicks, but when will they fledge? It must be soon. I see climbing parties further over on the Black Rock cliff, but this does not seem to perturb the Kestrel parents. They are far more worried about keeping nosey Jackdaws away from their patch!