Friday 22nd February

The three wind turbines at Avonmouth were rotating rapidly, at nearly 1 rps I think. I saw one Redshank, and (I think) a Peregrine sheltering behind the oak tree branches. Lots of Gulls, Rooks, Crows and Jackdaws were on the Downs grassland. It was too windy and too cold to linger very long.

Thursday 21st February

The wind was so strong at Sea Walls that I had difficulty holding my binoculars still even when held hard against the railings. I think I could see some Redshank on the mud, and they are pairing up for the spring. Just as I was about to cycle on, a bird flew over the gorge, at first I took it for a Cormorant, then realised it was some form of goose, but the time I had my glasses onto it it was too far away to identify. The wind at the Peregrine Watch was also very strong, a Peregrine was perched over in the oak tree, and the Ravens are starting to take an interest in their old nest.

The contractor working on the railway - and distributing wood chippings all over the sides of the cycle track and river bank is May Gurney. I'm informing various people who may be able to do something about this behaviour.

Further to this comment, the May Gurney web site at http://www.maygurney.co.uk/corporate/corporate.php
carriers the following messages:
- Minimising our impact on the environment and promoting sustainability and good environmental practices.
- Having a positive influence within the communities in which we operate.
- Take our environmental responsibilities seriously and be aware of the
impact of our operations on local communities.

Empty sentiments in this case!

Someone needs to contact them (needless to say their web site only has 'phone and address contacts, no email). Their Avonmouth branch is at Avon Riverside Estate,
Victoria Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, BS11 9DB, Tel: 01179 823756, Fax: 01179 820498

Tuesday February 12th, Wednesday February 20th

On Tuesday cycling was a bitterly cold experience, and I only paused long enough to see a lone Redshank on the mud. The very cold weather kept me away until today, when there was no frost, but a rather cold fog which cleared as I came up to the Gorge. I spotted a Black Headed Gull with his summer cap on on the grass by Saville Road, then on the estuary mud there were others. On the other side of the river by Sea Walls a couple of Oyster Catchers were feeding, their red bills like the red legs of some neighbouring Redshank. Oyster Catchers, like Curlew are quite a rare sight. On the mud below the Peregrine Watch were a couple of Cormorants, they flew off up-river, then had second thoughts, wheeled and headed downstream with the tide.

A bunch of cowboy workman are busy clearing trees from the side of the railway line opposite. The trees are being turned into chippings, and rather than being collected and disposed of properly, are being left in piles all over the side of the cycle track and down on the river bank. Who on earth employed this lot? They should be told to clear up the mess, it ruins the view of the Gorge from the Peregrine Watch, and probably will remain for the rest of the summer. Chippings take a long time to decay. Maybe this is something the putative "Friends of the Downs & Avon Gorge" should comment on!

Monday February 11th

My constitutional bike ride was taken in the early afternoon, and I arrived at the Peregrine Watch around 2.30pm. With brilliant sunshine coming from low over Leigh Woods it was nearly impossible to see anything in the Gorge clearly. There were no Peregrines easily visible over in the woods. From Sea Walls I did spot one lone Redshank picking through the mud and rocks.

Sunday 10th February

The tide was high at 10.30am when I reached the Peregrine Watch, so no waders were around, there was some mud when I left for home at 11. The female Peregrine was perched over in the oak tree, occasionally she moved about, she only flew off at the end of my visit, disappearing into the mist around Nightingale Valley.

Friday 8th February

At 10am the river was higher and starting to flow rapidly to Avonmouth. There were three Redshank scattered on the mud opposite Sea Walls, at the Peregrine Watch there were no Peregrines perched opposite. No sign of yesterdays small wader puzzle. Some additional thoughts though, prompted by the Editors comment.

I tried to see the bill shape but could not. The top plumage was very dark, and the bird had a white undercarriage. From the top of Sea Walls, for a bird pretty well underneath me it is very difficult to see leg colour or flecks on the breast. My binoculars are 10x42 Opticrons. This is the second time I have seen this bird in about the same place, the first sighting made me certain it was not another Redshank. The latter are quite common on the estuary mud below Sea Walls as today's blog evinces.

Wednesday 6th February

Identifying birds is always a problem. This morning I watched what I thought at first was a Kestral, then a Sparrowhawk, finally deciding it was a Peregrine! I first saw the bird being mobbed by some local Crows, then it left them and started to climb, just how far up was not evident until I took the glasses off it. It was high, high up above Bridge Valley Road, then it went into a stoop - as only a Peregrine can. The two Peregrines were perched over in the Oaks opposite all this time, which I why at first I did not think "Peregrine".

My second identification is still a bit problematic.

At Sea Walls, immediately under the cliff among the rocks, mud, and gulls I spotted a small wader with a very dark back and a white underside. From above it was not possible to see much more. However this time there was also a Redshank nearby for comparison, and this new bird was considerably smaller. In my RSPB Handbook of British Birds there are a few choices: Dunlin or Knot in winter plumage, then Green Sandpiper or a Common Sandpiper. On balance I think I prefer Green Sandpiper as a slightly more common winter bird than its Common cousin. The Knot and Dunlin are much, much more common, but the winter plumage is darker. Has anybody reading this a better identification?