Wednesday July 16th

I lingered at the Peregrine Watch - talking! But with an eye on the activity over the river, there was not much, some flights by Peregrines, and they could be seen perching in various trees and in the quarry opposite. A much greater interest was a large dark (blackish) gull which passed up and down a few times, at first I thought it was a hawk, but it had the head of a gull. A juvenile gull? Possible, but this bird flew like an adult, and its plumage was not like any of the young Herring or Black backed Gulls, much blacker. The size was comparable to a Herring Gull, possibly a little smaller. As it left the Gorge, flying over towards the Zoo, it was mobbed by a Herring Gull, and the two together looked similar in size. Shearwaters sometimes pass through, but its slight hawk-like appearance, and the reaction of the other gull makes me wonder if this wasn't a juvenile Skua. There were no tail streamers of the adult Skua. Have any Skuas ever been seen in the Avon Gorge?

Tuesday 15th July

This morning the Downs were misty with low clouds over Leigh Woods, and a dampness in the air. I did not stop, from the corner of my eye as I rejoined ladies Mile, I noticed two of the Peregrine kittens playing in the air just above the Peregrine Watch, and above them a large group of Swifts.

Sunday 13th July

This was one of those quiet, cotton wool cloud, windless mornings when many people make the most of the Downs, walking, jogging, cycling, picnicking, flying kites, or just watching. There was very little activity from the Peregrines, an occasional glimpse as they settled into the cliff under the Peregrine Watch, and sightings at various parts of the quarry, the banana tree and down by the Valerian. One was visible from Sea Walls on the nest, but had gone when I returned later. Then, a buzzard flew in circles over Walcombe Slade. On the river mud there were groups of Black Headed Gulls.

Thursday, Friday, 10th, 11th July

I have been watching 'le Tour de France' on ITV4. It struck me that the riders would cover the distance that I travel on each of these mornings (17.2km) in about 20 minutes! If I don't stop at Sea Walls or the Peregrine Watch, then the main holdups are with traffic, especially around 8 to 9 am in school terms, and the journey takes about 55 minutes. That was Thursday.
Friday was well worth a stop, from Sea Walls I could see one of the Peregrines atop the yew tree. At the Peregrine Watch, the Peregrine Kittens gave a great display of 'catch the black headed gull' and catch the pigeon, or maybe even a bee over Leigh Woods. They failed with all of these (or at least the first two), but the flying was spectacular. There were a couple of more business-like fly pasts as well. There are three young Peregrines still.

Monday, Tuesday, 7th, 8th July

Fewer falcons around at present, they can be seen on the cliff trees and ledges, but are often difficult to pick out against the rock face. Tuesday morning a bird was perched low down near a patch of valerian, it could be seen clearly from Sea Walls as well. A Kestrel hovered for a while over the trees at the side of Circular Road, and a local squirrel begged for food! Lets hope she does not become Kestrel food! As usual the Jackdaws were in and out of 'their' tree. The cover picture of Spring 2008 Eye-On-Local-Nature featured Jackdaws - they remain my favorite bird! Contact Geraldine Taylor - a frequent visitor to the Peregrine Watch about her Eye-On publication, now up to No 149!

Friday 4th July

The three Peregrine kittens frolicked in the air whilst one of the parents surveyed their antics from the bottom of the 'banana' tree - at least that is what it looked like! The youngsters flew, often so close you would think they would fall from the air in a knot, and at other times chasing each other, with mock attacks, swoops and aerial acrobatics. It was a scene to relish - and to wonder what it might have been like were there still five of them? Ghosts perhaps, but sometimes the bird shadows, projected by the morning sun onto the cliff face, made the appearance of more than three birds!
On our side a quartet of Cormorants flew rapidly up river to the docks, their shadows came into view before the birds, flying close together, and just over the Portway rather than the water; a hide tide and still coming in. Just behind, and over the Downs, a Kestrel appeared, hovered briefly, then flew off to the north.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 30th June, 1st, 2nd July

On Monday a grey Heron was perched on a crate beside the storm outflow below Sea Walls, he was busy cleaning his feathers rather than fishing. Cormorants are very common, flying either low over the water, or high above the Gorge.
Opinion seems to be that there are now only three of the five young Peregrines still around; so what happened to the other two? The trio, and their parents, can be seen sitting on the tops of the trees and on the quarry face opposite the Peregrine Watch. They also fly around and (the youngsters) are starting to chase other birds, so no doubt we will see them honing these skills over the next few weeks. Even a few minutes at the Gorge should enable the siting of a Peregrine at present.