Tuesday 22nd July

The mystery gull(s) are back! Two of these birds were flying around over the river under the Peregrine Watch this morning at around 7.30am, another set off towards the city docks. We had very clear views of them, but identification is another problem. I'll attempt a description, they have dark beaks, and brown flecked plumage which darkens to black at their wing tips. The leading edge of the wings were also darker, going to almost black, much lighter on the trailing edge. The heads are a lighter brown, and some white shows when they preen and turn their heads. I couldn't see the leg colour clearly from above. The gulls were on the water, and also the mud for some of the time. The tail feather tips are black, with a white area in front of this and above their rump, rather like the Sabine's Gull (I don't think they are these). Neither are they the Skuas, or the Shearwaters. They were 'playing' with some small pieces of stick! This time the other gulls (Black Headed mostly), ignored them. One guess is that they are immature Greater Black Backed Gulls. Otherwise could they be a hybrid? A web search for similar looking birds, particularly when photographed from above, drew a blank. I joked to Roger (Yates) as I left, that I hoped they would not attract twitchers! A 'photo would be very useful.

There was a Heron on the mud below Sea Walls, the first I've seen for a month or so.

Friday 18th July

Two of the Peregrine kittens were pursuing their mother and demanding to be fed! A Buzzard could be seen over towards the Suspension Bridge, and a flight of five Cormorants came past. The Black Headed Gulls and this years offspring have returned to the estuary. Always something!

Wednesday July 16th

I lingered at the Peregrine Watch - talking! But with an eye on the activity over the river, there was not much, some flights by Peregrines, and they could be seen perching in various trees and in the quarry opposite. A much greater interest was a large dark (blackish) gull which passed up and down a few times, at first I thought it was a hawk, but it had the head of a gull. A juvenile gull? Possible, but this bird flew like an adult, and its plumage was not like any of the young Herring or Black backed Gulls, much blacker. The size was comparable to a Herring Gull, possibly a little smaller. As it left the Gorge, flying over towards the Zoo, it was mobbed by a Herring Gull, and the two together looked similar in size. Shearwaters sometimes pass through, but its slight hawk-like appearance, and the reaction of the other gull makes me wonder if this wasn't a juvenile Skua. There were no tail streamers of the adult Skua. Have any Skuas ever been seen in the Avon Gorge?

Tuesday 15th July

This morning the Downs were misty with low clouds over Leigh Woods, and a dampness in the air. I did not stop, from the corner of my eye as I rejoined ladies Mile, I noticed two of the Peregrine kittens playing in the air just above the Peregrine Watch, and above them a large group of Swifts.

Sunday 13th July

This was one of those quiet, cotton wool cloud, windless mornings when many people make the most of the Downs, walking, jogging, cycling, picnicking, flying kites, or just watching. There was very little activity from the Peregrines, an occasional glimpse as they settled into the cliff under the Peregrine Watch, and sightings at various parts of the quarry, the banana tree and down by the Valerian. One was visible from Sea Walls on the nest, but had gone when I returned later. Then, a buzzard flew in circles over Walcombe Slade. On the river mud there were groups of Black Headed Gulls.

Thursday, Friday, 10th, 11th July

I have been watching 'le Tour de France' on ITV4. It struck me that the riders would cover the distance that I travel on each of these mornings (17.2km) in about 20 minutes! If I don't stop at Sea Walls or the Peregrine Watch, then the main holdups are with traffic, especially around 8 to 9 am in school terms, and the journey takes about 55 minutes. That was Thursday.
Friday was well worth a stop, from Sea Walls I could see one of the Peregrines atop the yew tree. At the Peregrine Watch, the Peregrine Kittens gave a great display of 'catch the black headed gull' and catch the pigeon, or maybe even a bee over Leigh Woods. They failed with all of these (or at least the first two), but the flying was spectacular. There were a couple of more business-like fly pasts as well. There are three young Peregrines still.

Monday, Tuesday, 7th, 8th July

Fewer falcons around at present, they can be seen on the cliff trees and ledges, but are often difficult to pick out against the rock face. Tuesday morning a bird was perched low down near a patch of valerian, it could be seen clearly from Sea Walls as well. A Kestrel hovered for a while over the trees at the side of Circular Road, and a local squirrel begged for food! Lets hope she does not become Kestrel food! As usual the Jackdaws were in and out of 'their' tree. The cover picture of Spring 2008 Eye-On-Local-Nature featured Jackdaws - they remain my favorite bird! Contact Geraldine Taylor - a frequent visitor to the Peregrine Watch about her Eye-On publication, now up to No 149!