Wednesday 1st September

I cycled down through Bristol and out by Cumberland Basin, then along the Portway to just below Sea Walls, back up Bridge Valley Road, and around the Downs past Sea Walls. By the time I got to Sea Walls there was a heavy misty rain falling. At the other side of the Downs by the White Tree it had nearly stopped and was dry. Micro climates!
The Avon was very low, with a small stream flowing out from the middle of acres of mud. Common, Herring, and Lesser Black backed gulls were all over the mud with this years siblings, now well grown, beside them. Mallard were busy by the storm drain, a couple of Cormorants flew up river, stopped for a while to greet another Cormorant perched on the mud, then continued up river. There was a Heron further down the river past Sea Walls. No sign of any Peregrines, but it is possible to see where they have been sitting on the rock faces, large white splashes of guano are spread below various rock perches. I managed to spot the group of Sorbus Wilmottiana - or Wilmott's Whitebeam just beside the Donkey Slide, they look as if they are thriving. There was a heavy rock slide on the slope beside them a little while ago, but it did not damage them. A number of other common Whitebeams now have berries and their leaves are starting to turn colour, so autumn is close.

Monday 31st August

A heron took off from the mud down river from Sea Walls, he stopped first by the storm drain, then a little further down, and again down belwo the Peregrine Watch. This time I could see a Peregrine over on the 'banana tree'.

Sunday August 30th

The Redshank have returned to the estuary mud after their summer recess, there were two birds by Sea Walls. A set of curious tracks on the mud showed up. They were probably made by a (large) dog running from the tow path opposite, however at one point they joined up with some neater tracks which looked like those from a deer, I wonder whether they hide a story? Someone has removed the council's large notice by Sea Walls! There was a bike event on Ladies Mile, causing it to be closed to traffic, so some small children could enjoy cycling up and down.

Tuesday, Wednesday August 25, 26

On Tuesday there were two Roe deer in the quarry opposite Peregrine Watch. A doe and her fawn, they were on the grassy slope just by the trees on the lhs. The fawn suckled its mother at one stage, the mother was also busy eating the lower branches of the trees.

Wednesday was very windy as the remnants of hurricane Bill passed over Bristol.

Tuesday 18th August

A quiet ride around the Downs. Bristol's butterfly bush, the buddleia, is producing some second blossoms, and I have seen the occasional painted lady butterfly on them. No
Peregrine this morning.

Tuesday 11th August

Grey and blues days seem to alternate, today was blue with some clouds. A quick trip around the Downs with brief stops at Sea Walls and the Peregrine Watch. The river was muddy brown, debris, gulls and ducks still moving slowly in on the nearly high tide. I spotted a male Peregrine as soon as I had my glasses focused towards the quarry, he flew low, then towards me and the cliff below, as he came in and got close, he folded his wings as in a stoop, but to land on a cliff ledge.

Sunday 9th August

Another sunny morning (irony). The river tide had just turned, very little bird life that I could see. The travellers / gypsies have moved on, or been moved on, so that that the only relics of their camp are large grass circles showing where their tethered horses cropped the grass.
A more careful reading of the plastic posters shows that they refer to barbeque's and removing rubbish, it looks as if some more permanent notices on metal posts will appear soon, probably about parking. There are already such notices on Cote Green, and one on Ladies Mile hidden by foliage. We have far too many notices plastered over our roads and countryside, the useful ones are usually obscured by trees and bushes.
Home to sardines and croissants for breakfast.