Tuesday - Thursday, October 16th - 18th

On Monday, Geraldine and I went to Westonbirt Arboretum, the Japanese acers are very striking in the autumn colours, but what was remarkable was the greenery on the other trees - and an amazing lack of birds. I only saw a couple of pigeons, some crows, and some small birds flying up near the canopy top of some large trees. Where are all the birds?
Standing one hundred meters above the Avon, looking down, gives a unique view of bird flight, from the Jackdaws, to Gulls and Herons, every detail of the fight feathers are revealed. Herons in particular look very beautiful - but are outclassed by the Buzzard that I saw on Tuesday. Wow! He/she was flying low down near to the lampposts above the road, then flew across to land behind some trees on the Gorge slope in Leigh Woods. There must have been something edible down there! That was Tuesday before the heavy rain. Today and yesterday a Peregrine sat in the 'Banana Tree' for all of my visit, he (a small bird) moved slightly but did not fly. As with the Buzzard I had a good view of a female as she came in to land on the cliff underneath the Peregrine Watch. A pair of Buzzards soared, high, and moving in circles towards Clifton. The tide has started to go out again, in this mornings' sun a group of nearly fifty Mallard were camped on the mud, and dabbling in the water below Sea Walls. A Grey Heron was fishing nearby.

Sunday, October 14th

There was a Peregrine sitting in the banana tree when I arrived at the Watch, it (almost literally) vanished, and could not see it afterwards. There were some Jackdaws flitting around on the ciff, but no falcon.

Friday, October 12th

A Peregrine landed just beside the Raven's nest, he sat facing the cliff, and as he moved his head from side to side there were glimpses of his mask-like face. The tide was fairly high but receding, and without much mud, so that there were few birds to see.

Thursday, October 11th

As I arrived at the Peregrine Watch fog came up from the estuary - so dense that Leigh Woods all but disappeared. However looking upwards, blue sky was visible! Only the Jackdaws were out today.

Wednesday, 10th October

There was a Redshank on the mud below Sea Walls, however, when I reached the Peregrine Watch a very large group of other birds were visible, sitting underneath the Sea Walls cliff on the mud. There must have been 80+ gulls, a couple of dozen Mallard, three Cormorants, and a Gray Heron sitting on the nearby wall. No feeding, just sitting, so what drew them all together, I do not know!

At Sea Walls one of the Ravens flew past, and on over to Snyed Park, it passed quite close to me. Until you see one of these up close, you don't quite realise how large and majestic they are. A while later I saw both Ravens cross back into Leigh Woods and come down among the trees near the quarry to the left. Something down in the wood must have attracted them, I hope, not another dead deer.

My bicycle is becoming - like me - rather stiff and suffering from old age. However I can buy a new bicycle, so I made a trip to Fred Baker on the way home, and ordered a new Dawes Discovery 501. Cycling should become a little easier next week.

Tuesday, 9th October

A very wet morning, so my ride was delayed until late afternoon. Just as I arrived at the Peregrine Watch - and spotted a Peregrine over in the 'banana tree' - the heavens opened. I saw it coming! I dodged in under one of the nearby Holme Oaks, and was joined by a couple of squirrels, and a jogger! A Crow immersed itself nearly completely in a large puddle at the side of the road, evidently enjoying a bath - and ridding itself of feather mites. I understand that Peregrines like a daily bath, but I have never seen this. Do they use the Avon? When I returned to the Watch after the rain passed, the Peregrine had also moved on.

Monday, October 8th

Two Redshank among the gulls this morning. Just as a large student party came up to the Peregrine watch ("limestone cliffs, tide going out, 49ft (?!) tidal range, Avonmouth, blah, blah...) a heron flew down river, very low over the water. In the quarry opposite the Ravens were on their nest, and a group of Jackdaws explored the cliffs.