Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, November 29th 30th, December 1st

Wednesday was the only day when I saw a peregrine - again a quick flash of wings as he came into the cliff under the peregrine watch. The raven was soaring around the cliffs on the other side of the gorge - a large bird which I initially mistook for a buzzard.
"It (the raven) is massive, bigger than a buzzard. It is all black with a large bill, and long wings. In flight, it shows a diamond-shaped tail." See R.S.P.B. Apart from these a lone cormorant made its way up towards Bristol.
On Thursday three men were working on the slope beside the cliffs opposite, it was also very quiet.
Today, Friday, there were large groups of birds on the Downs - seagulls over behind the water tower - starlings beside Lady's Mile and a big group of jackdaws and crows on the Downs nearer to Sea Walls. The very mild weather means that there are a lot of worms and grubs near to the surface.

Tuesday November 28th

A very bright, clear and warm morning, a small yacht was going down river. Three cormorants came from the Avonmouth direction, two carried on past the boat, the other landed in the river, then took off some minutes later, following the other two into Bristol.

A raven came down river, and about level with the cliff top, large and with beautiful glossy black feathers, a few moments later a peregrine came past, the two went into the trees in the valley beside Sea Walls, there was a brief chase, and the peregrine returned - to land on a tree opposite in the middle of the Leigh Woods. Just below this tree another looks rather like a large 'K'. The peregrine stayed put, but I lost sight of him, his presence was given away by a pigeon who approached the same tree, then veered off! The peregrine remained until I left for home at around 11am. Just before that a sparrowhawk flew towards Bristol and just above me. An active few minutes!

Wednesday 22nd, Sunday 26th, Monday 27th November

I was up at the peregrine watch each day around 10.30-11.00 am. The weather became warmer over these days, but with lots of rain and wind. No raptors - except that I may have seen a peregrine come in to land on the cliff on Sunday, it was over in a fraction of a second. A larger group of 'birders' were there Sunday - how they ever see anything I don't know, they perch themselves on the grass and well back from the edge of the cliff. On Sunday the jackdaws congregated in their tree, a couple of elegant little birds watched me carefully, their strong black head caps catching the sunlight. One of the jackdaws has a lot of white breast feathers, and some in its wings as well. On the river: Sunday a group of ducks paddled around the edge of the river; Monday a large flock of gulls floated in the middle of the river, floating slowly downstream with the outgoing tide. The ducks were in the same place each day!

Tuesday 21st November

Cold and with rain showers coming in on a moderate north wind, Wales in bright sunshine, us in a cloud shadow. The wind made the tide look as if it was coming in, but the river debris gave away the ebb. The only sign of any raptor was (what I thought could be) a peregrine call. It was not repeated. Abbots Leigh woods are now in their winter colours, bleak browns and yellows broken by the occasional evergreen.

Sunday November 19th

A very bright clear blue sky. At Sea Walls the sun was shining down from behind the Suspension Bridge, and onto the mud of the River; this acted as a huge magnifying mirror, so that the river was a blaze of light. The reflection concentrated the light and heat onto the top of the cliffs making the parking area at the top much, much hotter than from the natural sunlight. An incredible effect!
No peregrines (11am), but I did see a cormorant making its way up towards Bristol, and a heron flew down river and landed down on the wall beside the road and under Sea Walls. Curious that he did not land on the river edge.

Friday 17th November

My first ride for several days - visiting our new Grandson, William took us away from Bristol. Thursday was very wet, so I gave that a miss! Nothing to report, but I must look at my RSPB book to check on some juvenile plumage for various gulls.

Friday 10th, Sunday 12th November

No ride on Saturday. I was in Licata's Italian delicatessen when news of the birth of our second grandson - William Clifford Jones came through. He was born on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month! Welcome William, and many congratulations to Joanna and Chris. A brother for Joseph.
During my cycle rides, both days were very quiet, with only jackdaws flying around the peregrine watch, and the usual small groups of crows, rooks and gulls on the Downs. The weather is much milder than it was last week.