Thursday 22nd March

A grey day, but not as bitterly cold as yesterday, we are promised rain and warmth, and Summer? There are Chionodoxa just beyond the hedge at the Peregrine Watch, so we already have Spring. The tide was very high with a large amount of river debris starting to flow downstream, this is also the time for the Severn bore, but it does not affect the Avon. There were mallard on the river, and many wood pigeons over in the trees of Leigh Woods, but no raptors.

Wednesday 21st March

Not a cloud in the sky, but the vestiges of the cold easterly wind, and a frost. The white mountain over in Wales - one of the Brecons - was clearly visible. The tide was high, but just on the turn with a lot of river debris floating downstream. I saw two cormorants, the first going down river under Sea Walls, more about the other later.
At the Peregrine Watch it was very quiet, a heron made its way up to the Docks, nothing but wood pigeons in Leigh Woods, and the flock of jackdaws. Then a peregrine appeared, she was a large bird, and she flew just out in front of me over the river, then back to Leigh Woods towards the Suspension Bridge, rising all the time. She flew up even higher, and started back down river, but high over Leigh Woods so that I nearly lost sight of her. However I managed to get view her with binoculars, she came back over me, probably 1000 feet up above the Gorge rim. Then I lost her. Five minutes later a peregrine - I assume the same one - appeared opposite just over Leigh Woods, and flew into the cliff below me. They must be nesting there this year. And the other cormorant? That appeared high above me, probably 500 feet up, I first saw it with the binoculars whilst looking for the peregrine, it was going down river. But so high! I wondered whether the peregrine would attack it, but nothing happened in my view.

Tuesday March 20th

A very cold morning, the wind was raging down Ladies Mile, so I cut back through the town to avoid it! At the Peregrine Watch I think I could just see a peregrine over in Leigh Woods; there was a bright blue sky, so out of the wind it was warm,and a bird would have been quite well protected where he was sitting. The Downs were very, very hard and dry, so that no birds were out looking for their breakfast. Me, I was off back home for a kipper!

Sunday March 18th

Mothering Sunday. My ride was a little earlier this morning, so that I arrived at the Peregrine Watch around 9am. There was a strong north wind but with the bright sunshine and clouds it was quite warm. The wind was creating waves on the river, and the gulls and jackdaws were falling around the sky above the Gorge. Arriving at Sea Walls I heard a thump, thump of drums, at first I thought it was a car stereo, then a band marching along the Portway, it turned out to be a 'rave' going on in the quarry opposite, caravans and a tarpaulin, and some tents were visible though the trees. That should keep the pigeons away! The drums were still audible at the Peregrine Watch.

A peregrine appeared high up, probably another 250ft above the Gorge rim, from his circling I think he was looking for breakfast. However the gulls did not even notice him, maybe they fell safe and the Gorge peregrines go for other prey. He glided over towards Stoke Bishop, then came back overhead, then back down river again over Stoke Bishop, disappearing as a speck towards Shirehampton and Horse Shoe Bend.

Saturday 17th March

St Patrick's Day! No stopping this morning, all I saw was a flock of starlings in a chestnut tree! The chestnuts are just showing signs of leaves.

Wednesday to Friday, 14-16 March

Three days older, 30 miles later!
On Wednesday the redshank were out underneath Sea Walls cliffs, a pair and a single bird. Then at the Peregrine Watch a couple of peregrines were circling over the river, they 'disappeared' as only peregrines can. The next I saw was a lone bird swoop into a tree in Leigh Woods just opposite. I could just make out his white front as he perched on a branch.
Thursday, four redshank were together on a little patch of rocks just below Sea Walls cliff, every now and then they fluttered to another place. Their red legs and white wing flashes make these fascinating little birds. I did not stop at the Peregrine Watch since I had to rush home to take Geraldine for a hair appointment.
Friday. A cormorant was perched on the water outflow, he was accompanied by a flotilla of ducks. Nothing else apart from a fine looking pair of lesser black backed gulls. The jackdaws were gathering small pieces of bark for their nests on the cliff.

Sunday 11th March

When I stopped at Sea Walls, first one, then another buzzard were circling high up, down river and towards Stoke Bishop. I think they were joined by a peregrine, at any rate a bird flew off to the north at speed, with peregrine-like flight. When I reached the Peregrine Watch there were buzzards to the north and to the south of us, probably three pairs in all. A fine view of one of them as it flew past at gorge-top level. A peregrine was flying high over towards the suspension bridge. The tree tops in Leigh Woods opposite were peppered with wood pigeons, probably keeping a low profile with so many raptors around! It was also high tide, at least there was no mud for any waders.