Wednesday January 2nd

The temperature is dropping - signalled by my toe temperature during the ride. The sky was even more overcast today, so that the half dozen or so Redshank looked like little dark blobs as they searched the waters edge. There was no sign of a Peregrine today, but I did not stop long. With an even colder day on Thursday I stayed at home - and watched the excellent pre-Christmas ITV series Up On The Downs - thanks Geraldine - for the tape!

Tuesday 1st January

This morning's falcon was perched in an oak tree, midway between the two quarries opposite to the Peregrine Watch. She appeared as a white dot in the bare woodland, I did not see her arrive, and she was still there, breast feathers puffed up and mask just visible above her white breast. She was probably digesting a kill. Apart from the Peregrine, Mallard ducks were swimming in a very mucky looking river, and a group of Jackdaws and a pair of Magpies squabbled over some seeds someone had left out near to the railings.

Monday December 31st

I'm not exactly a 'twitcher', except for spotting new (for me) birds on my ride each morning. Maybe two this morning!
As I cycled down towards the White Tree a small yellowish bird easily kept pace with my bike at 30km/hr, it flitted along above the pavement with a kind of looping flight, and landed a few times, at first I though 'Chaffinch', then a closer look as it crossed in front, landed again on the opposite pavement, and wagged its tail at me, I thought, Ah, a Grey Wagtail, well away from its usually watery places. The last one I saw was down south of Chew Valley Lake, so they are around.
There was a little more mud on the Avon estuary this morning, rapidly diminishing as the tide came in, there were Redshank scattered at wide intervals, perhaps a dozen in all. Then, underneath Sea Walls I saw another small bird, plumper than a Redshank, also a little smaller, but with a very white undersides, from the top it looked dark. With such a dull morning light most birds look dark brown! Like the Redshank it was rooting around at the river-side in the mud. I could only see it from above, and did not manage to view it flying. What was it? My R.S.P.B. book helps a little, at least with possibilities. It was certainly not an Oyster Catcher; some form of Sandpiper? I could not see its legs from above, so could not judge their colour or length. A Turnstone in its winter coat? Possible, but it was too large, certainly not like the ones I saw in Brittany this year. On balance I go for a Common Sandpiper. Moreover the R.S.P.B. video from the link shows what I saw quite clearly, though in a rather different environment. Maybe someone else will see it and give a better identification.

No sign of any raptors, but they must be around. Maybe chasing the pigeons in Broadmead! A Very Happy New Year to all!

Sunday December 30th

My first ride for over a week! A damp-cold morning, with a high tide which turned from flow to ebb whilst I was watching. Very few birds apart from the usual gulls, jackdaws and ducks.

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!