On Friday I watched a Redshank having a bath in the river side below Black Rocks. It fluffed up its' feathers and sprayed water all over them, them wriggled and jostled them back into order, all the while working on the plumage with its' long beak, then it left the water for the riverside mud, and shook itself like a little dog. During this wash the beautiful white wing stripes and the red legs came into and out of view. Magical!
Sunday gave a glimpse of a Peregrine disappearing around the corner of Black Rocks and into the Gully, then at the Watch another Peregrine swooped past a group of Jackdaws near the Jackdaw tree, driving them into the bushes at the top of the cliff. The bird was only bullying, not hunting. It is good to show who is boss occasionally.
Today, Wednesday, the river formed long convex ripples which appeared to move upstream as a north westerly wind blew across the surface. First one, then the other Raven appeared from over Sea Walls and flew into Leigh Woods to the left of the Peregrine Watch, they stayed a while, then took off, circled over by Nightingale Valley and came back past me. As one passed it let out a single faint RAAK. The wing-tip feather of these mighty majestic birds separate as they fly. They both disappeared over towards Shirehampton again. What were they investigating on this there-and back-again journey? What did one of them say to me?
Over in Leigh Woods the leaves have all gone, and the Peregrines are back on their customary roosts opposite. I could see two light specks in the oak tree slightly to the left of twin tree stumps covered in ivy, one bird faced me, the other had its' back to me and was just behind the tree branches. Both birds moved slightly, so were probably digesting meals.
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