Saturday 17th March

St Patrick's Day! No stopping this morning, all I saw was a flock of starlings in a chestnut tree! The chestnuts are just showing signs of leaves.

Wednesday to Friday, 14-16 March

Three days older, 30 miles later!
On Wednesday the redshank were out underneath Sea Walls cliffs, a pair and a single bird. Then at the Peregrine Watch a couple of peregrines were circling over the river, they 'disappeared' as only peregrines can. The next I saw was a lone bird swoop into a tree in Leigh Woods just opposite. I could just make out his white front as he perched on a branch.
Thursday, four redshank were together on a little patch of rocks just below Sea Walls cliff, every now and then they fluttered to another place. Their red legs and white wing flashes make these fascinating little birds. I did not stop at the Peregrine Watch since I had to rush home to take Geraldine for a hair appointment.
Friday. A cormorant was perched on the water outflow, he was accompanied by a flotilla of ducks. Nothing else apart from a fine looking pair of lesser black backed gulls. The jackdaws were gathering small pieces of bark for their nests on the cliff.

Sunday 11th March

When I stopped at Sea Walls, first one, then another buzzard were circling high up, down river and towards Stoke Bishop. I think they were joined by a peregrine, at any rate a bird flew off to the north at speed, with peregrine-like flight. When I reached the Peregrine Watch there were buzzards to the north and to the south of us, probably three pairs in all. A fine view of one of them as it flew past at gorge-top level. A peregrine was flying high over towards the suspension bridge. The tree tops in Leigh Woods opposite were peppered with wood pigeons, probably keeping a low profile with so many raptors around! It was also high tide, at least there was no mud for any waders.

Wednesday to Friday, 7-9 March

Three days with the Gorge peregrines, usually between 10 and 11am. The birds sit over in the trees in Leigh Woods, and in the strong sunshine of the last few days their white fronts stand out like a little light in the trees. Mostly they sit still and enjoy the morning sunshine. They take off and either fly over to the cliff below the Peregrine Watch, or fly over towards Stoke Bishop and disappear. Since the pigeons sit around them, sometimes very close, just yards away, I guess these birds have eaten and are digesting the latest pigeon! Today, Friday, a couple of peregrines were circling high in the sky above the Gorge. This lasted for some tens of minutes, occasionally a bird would seem to 'disappear' as it dropped out of the sky, but I did not see a kill. They were still circling when I left.

Tuesday 6th March

There was more water lying on the roads around the Downs than I have ever seen before. Several crows were taking advantage of the large puddle to take a wash! At the peregrine watch a group of five to six magpies were arguing on a tree in the nearby woodland, some seagulls were doing a fair imitation of buzzards by soaring high in the sky, and a pair of buzzards were circling around high over towards the Suspension Bridge. They also seemed to be squabbling - or courting! I spotted one peregrine, a large bird, so probably a female, again high over the Suspension Bridge. She disappeared against the sun, so I lost her. It was/is a beautiful bright day with little wind and a spring warmth, the river was very full, the tide going out and with no mud visible.

Thursday, 1st March

Two oyster catchers were on the mud just below Clifton Rocks' Cliff, I did not see any redshank. There was a very high wind, howling through the railings, the Council have continued with the repair of these railings - about time! When I passed the Peregrine Watch on my first circuit of the Downs, the jackdaws were wheeling around high in the sky, they were still there when I returned, but disappeared, and were nowhere to be seen. The reason was probably a hunting peregrine. I first saw her(?) just above Leigh Woods, she moved over the Gorge, and ascended, then circled. Slowly she worked her way towards the Watch, then high overhead, way up and circling, then she moved over above the woods on our side. Suddenly another peregrine dived at her, and I lost her. Courtship - or "keep off my patch"? Next, probably the same bird appeared over towards the suspension bridge, and resumed circling. I last saw her descending rapidly towards the woods, and lost sight of her. Where are they nesting this year?

Monday 26th February

The legs of two redshank positively glowed red in the sunshine as they fed on the mud under Clifton Rocks. Why were their legs so indistinct before? At the Peregrine Watch all was quiet at first, until another watcher pointed out a peregrine high in the sky towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge, she was gliding around, then coming down to tree level, then soaring up again. Once she made a swoop, and I saw another bird fleeing from him, she soared back up again, and worked her way in our direction. This bird was hunting, but I did not see a kill. She passed the Peregrine Watch, eventually she disappeared towards the cliffs to the right of the Watch, and I did not see her again. I think the Americans call the peregrine a 'duck hawk', and there were a number of mallard flying around, but no peregrine strikes. Earlier a heron came down river, and perched at the water outflow to the right, then a cormorant, to be joined by another from the river side. They both flew on down river. Finally a kestral flew right above us at the Watch, she disappeared off over the Downs. A really beautiful morning, I only left when I started to get cold - I'm in shorts and sandals now!