Wednesday 19th December

Perhaps the coldest ride in 2007! It took me an hour to warm up when I got home. Even the mud was frozen, one unfortunate Redshank and a few ducks were picking at the water edges. 'Flu struck me over last weekend, so a cold ride was probably not a good idea.

This time last week I went on my first walk with the local Ramblers - a short circuit at the south end of Chew Valley Lake. The lake is well stocked with water fowl of all shapes and sizes; there was nothing unusual so far as I could see, however by the Litton Upper Reservoir, on the water race, I spotted a Grey Wagtail.

Tuesday 11th December

A VERY cold morning, not a time to linger at the Gorge. There were Redshank picking the contents of a small amount of mud, and ducks lined the water edge. Large flocks of Black Headed and Common gulls were out on the Downland grass.

Monday, Tuesday 3rd and 4th December

Monday was bright and clear - so the red legs of the Redshank were positively glowing in the morning sunshine and the images of a pair of cormorants just beyond Sea Walls were etched onto the sunshine on the river. At the Peregrine Watch I saw a Raven high up and towards the Suspension Bridge, then (I thought) another, but this was a Peregrine, there was a brief aerial scrap and they parted. Both birds circling and moving out of sight.
Tuesday was damp and misty, so the Redshank became indistinct and brown at the water edge. I got damp!

Friday 30th November

On the stretch of Circular Road just before the Peregrine Watch I had a brief glimpse of a bird with white wings, my first thought was "Magpie", but it flew like a Crow and was following another Crow into one of the bushes. Is there a black and white Crow on the Downs, there used to be a Jackdaw with a lot of white feathers, but I have not seen that for a while? One of the Ravens was soaring over Nightingale Valley, using the wind like a Buzzard, a Peregrine appeared high above the Raven, then swooped right down towards the trees in the quarry opposite, she moved so fast I nearly lost her from my glasses. She rounded, and headed back up towards Nightingale Valley, disappearing behind the trees. The Kestral was flying over the railway line, she disappeared up towards the Suspension Bridge.

Thursday November 29th

There was a beautiful bright blue sky this morning, producing a blinding reflection from the river by Sea Walls. The high tide, it was still coming in, had the usual effect of causing most of the bird population to go elsewhere, but I did follow a lone Cormorant as it skimmed the river surface, and flew down towards Horseshoe Bend. A Kestral appeared briefly above the water below the Peregrine Watch, she was a marvellous red-brown colour, just like the red colour we saw in the Beech trees a little earlier this year. She hovered, landed and fluttered between the trees beside the railway, no doubt looking for a meal. No sign of Peregrines, but I was assured that they do still perch in the trees over in the quarry, I have not seen them for several weeks.

Monday 26th November

An ebb tide, but with very little mud, there was one lone Redshank picking the mud at the river edge. A small flock of about 20 birds flew over the Peregrine Watch, didn't look like Starlings, could be Fieldfare?

Sunday November 25th

Warm, and with a light blue, hazy sky. I was able to wear shorts for the first time in a couple of weeks! The tide was going out, but there were not many birds on the mud, however a small group of four Redshank were running around on the mud opposite and just up river from Sea Walls. They looked as if they were playing tag! I wonder if the bird-courting season is upon us already? It is unusual to see a group of Redshank, usually they are well separated on the mud, and at the waters edge. No sign of any raptors this morning.

Last Thursday saw a meeting of the (now to be named), "Friends of Avon Gorge & Bristol Downs", the meeting was largely concerned with finding a voice and purpose for the group. My own feelings largely concern the impact of traffic on the roads between Stoke Road and the Gorge, something I see a lot of from my cycle rides! This morning saw another 'boy racer' accelerating around Circular Road, last Wednesday I was overtaken at the junction of Rockleaze and Downleaze by a white car doing at least 60mph. It goes on, with other idiots (often in large white vans(!), taking corners whilst conversing on their mobile 'phones, and people leaving 'wheelie marks', rubbish and firework carcases after their night revels. Then we have the new phenomenon of Zoo parking appearing beside Ladies Mile (actually a kilometer). Me, I would close a lot of the area to motor traffic of any type! My own view is that we should leave the whole area as un-interfered with as possible - and exclude cars! The Portway is very attractive on the few occasions it has to be closed for work on the side rocks, or for an event such as the half-marathon or Great Bristol Cycle Ride.