Wednesday, Thursday, April 7th, 8th

Two sunny days, it is still a little cold. The buds on the horse chestnut trees are coming greener each day, and there are buds on the whitebeams.
Wednesday: There was a very brief glimpse of a Kestrel as it flew by close under the Sea Walls cliff, a few Redshank on the mud and then a hunting Peregrine over towards the Suspension bridge.
Thursday: No Peregrines, the Raven was on its nest, there were well over 50 Redshank on the mud below Sea Walls, by far the largest number that I have seen. They are spread out all along the water edge and on the mud slopes. A set of tracks on the mud could be from a Deer, but I could not see any animal. By 11am in the morning they are all under cover, so maybe if I could get out at sunrise ...

Sunday March 28th, Tuesday April 6th

We were away last week, Monday to Friday, beside the sea at Bridport. I did see a couple of Gannets, but otherwise the weather kept most birdwatching to being a dream!
Sunday: a morning ride around the Downs; a couple of Redshank below Black Rock and a sighting of a Peregrine flying back over the Downs towards Shirehampton.
Monday: I counted 39 Redshank below the Sea Walls cliffs, mostly in two large groups on the river mud opposite, but a couple on this side. At the Peregrine Watch a bird flew from the cliff below me, and over to perch in a small ash tree opposite - looking as usual like a small lantern. The Raven was very visible on her nest. I wonder if the chicks have hatched?