Friday 6th October

I managed one circuit around the Downs, then the heavens opened as I was approaching the White Tree. I scuttled off home to a hot shower.

Wednesday 4th October

A bright cold morning, and the first time my feet felt cool in sandals! Autumn is around! Rooks, carrion crows and various seagulls were scattered over the football pitches. A group of ducks were squabbling in the small outflow just below the Sea Walls cliff. I thought I saw a buzzard, but on looking through glasses it is more likely to have been a seagull soaring high up.

Monday 2nd October

Saturday was Bristol Morris's 'Erik Day', commemorating the life of Erik Ilott, Bristol Shanteyman. This was the 20th anniversary of his death. We circumnavigated Bristol Docks, consuming ale and toasting his memory at eight pubs.
Sunday was very wet - the heavens opened - so a ride was not possible. However the effect was still to be seen at the Peregrine Watch. A line of gulls stretched along the mud, nearly all at the same distance from the grass that lines the river banks, just above tide level. Just under, and on this side of the river I spotted two herons probing the shallows, with more gulls. It is likely that the rain had washed small creatures from the banks. It is rare to see herons on the river mud, they fly up and down sometimes, but rarely try to feed.
Just as I was about to leave I noticed the unmistakable flight of a peregrine over the little valley beside the Sea Walls cliffs, the falcon seemed to be chasing something. A little after this a pair of buzzards were flying around in the same region. A large flock of rooks was also flying around in the brisk westerly wind.