Friday 17th November

My first ride for several days - visiting our new Grandson, William took us away from Bristol. Thursday was very wet, so I gave that a miss! Nothing to report, but I must look at my RSPB book to check on some juvenile plumage for various gulls.

Friday 10th, Sunday 12th November

No ride on Saturday. I was in Licata's Italian delicatessen when news of the birth of our second grandson - William Clifford Jones came through. He was born on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month! Welcome William, and many congratulations to Joanna and Chris. A brother for Joseph.
During my cycle rides, both days were very quiet, with only jackdaws flying around the peregrine watch, and the usual small groups of crows, rooks and gulls on the Downs. The weather is much milder than it was last week.

Wednesday, Thursday 8th and 9th November

Very heavy fog on Monday and Tuesday, then Wednesday there was a misty rain which became worse when I reached the Gorge! Rooks seem to congregate with jackdaws on the Downland grass, there was a small flock of black headed gulls in their winter plumage. No sign of any peregrines, but then, I was only at the Gorge side for a short time.

Sunday November 5th

Misty blue with high cloud over the Gorge this morning. I was not out until 11.30am. Just as I was about to leave a hawk flew over our heads and up towards the Suspension bridge. I think it was probably a kestrel. I think that one of the juvenile peregrines was perched down in a tree just to the right of the Peregrine Watch. He was moving around quite a lot, but I could see the whitish head and light coloured breast with brown feathers on his back. I waited for him to fly out - but he didn't!

Friday 3rd November

Bright and sunny after a cold, frosty night. The flocks of birds - gulls, crows, rooks, jackdaws, usually on the Downland grass in the mornings were absent. Nothing much at the Peregrine Watch, I did spot a couple of black backed gulls, one going up river probably a greater black backed, the other down, probably a lesser black backed. I judged these were different from the intensity of the black backs and size. Acres of mud and the tide nearly finished going out.

Thursday 2nd November

Just after I arrived at 10:30 a lone cormorant flew up-river low over the water. Lots of mud with the tide still going out. At 10:50 a distinct call down to my right alerted me to a peregrine, he flew around the cliff a little, then made off to roost on the cliff over the river opposite; his presence explained why the flock of a couple of dozen jackdaws had risen from the cliffs below on a couple of occasions, and flew around in agitated formation, before returning to the cliff. This was a very bright and cold morning, the heavy overnight frost had hardened the ground of the Downs so that there were few birds on the grass.

Tuesday 31st October, Wednesday 1st November

Tuesday: A strong gale swept down the Gorge from the NNE, blowing the rooks, jackdaws, and seagulls around the sky. A brief glimpse of (probably) a sparrow hawk over the wooded valley beside Sea Walls, at first I thought it was just another rook, then it attracted the attention of others. Mobbing is a sure sign of a hawk. Lots of birds on the downland grass.
Wednesday: Cold and clear with a wind from nearer the east. A brief glimpse of a heron as I arrived at the peregrine watch. Seagulls on the mud, and several pairs of mallards swimming up river with the incoming tide.