Monday 1st January

The world and their wives, girlfriends, dogs and all were out on the Downs this morning! Had some of them looked skywards they might have noticed four buzzards flying high, probably a thousand feet above the Gorge. Gulls and the rooks and crows were also higher up than usual. When I reached the peregrine watch (around 12.30 this morning), there was a peregrine flying first towards the Sea Walls valley, with a flash of blue as the sun caught her back feathers, then later high above me up the river. The next I saw of her was flying high and back across the Downs, where she disappeared. One of the buzzards accompanied her towards the valley, but did not re-appear.
The picture shows a buzzard over the Eden project - generated by a photo collage since in the original the buzzard was disappearing into the cloud at the bottom right hand corner of the enlarged inset image.

Friday, Saturday 30/31st December

Two rides, the second one with a strong headwind from Sea Walls. Several 'birders' at the peregrine watch - but not peregrines. The last post I tried with a picture download failed, so try another to see if the system works? Yep, so meet Joseph, my grandson, now two, and his dad, Chris overlooking another Gorge in Italy.

Thursday December 28th

Bright, but watery sunshine this morning. The tide was coming in, pushing a large flock of gulls up the mudbank. No raptors during my short stay. I feel I should do/say more now that I'm a member of the RSPB! Signed up by Joanna, Chris, Joseph and William as a Christmas present.

Christmas Eve

A cold and gray morning, but since I have not ventured out for a rise for nearly a week, this was necessary exercise. I have not seen the peregrines for a couple of weeks at least, yet they must feed themselves in this weather? Other birds were out on the Downs feeding, there were three separate groups of black-headed gulls, apart from a large mixed group of crows, jackdaws, rooks and herring gulls.
Sometimes the Downs depress me greatly from the amount of rubbish that is jettisoned from cars and people eating pizza, drinking beer or other activities (there was an unused condom in the gutter today). However I have not seen a vandalised car until now. The car was by Sea Walls with its windows broken and the boot wrenched up - what story is behind this? Myself, joggers and other cyclists and car owners passed by on the other side, probably trying to ignore it.

Monday December 18th

On Sunday I walked over to the peregrine watch, then on Monday did my usual cycle ride. Spring must be in the air - all the jackdaws were sitting close together in pairs in the Jackdaw Tree. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday saw a dramatic temperature drop, with fog and frost in the early morning. Not cycling weather except for sadists!

Take a look at my video blog - Vlog!

Friday December 15th

Very dark, dull, but warm morning with rain in the air. Ducks and gulls flying over the river, and a pair of pied wagtails up at the top with me. Not a day to linger.

Tuesday 12th December

The last few mornings were very wet, I started off on Sunday, but turned back to have a walk instead.
This morning was bright, with the sun shining through high cloud, at the Gorge there was a slight rain shower, but it passed. Today's tally? Mallards dabbling at the river edge, a group of over 50 gulls strung out down the middle of the river, and a lone cormorant flying downstream very low over the water.