Wednesday 25th February

The Peregrine was sitting side on to me showing folded gray wings and a white front, every now and then she scratched herself, a little like one of my cats. Like all birds she probably suffers from pests (mites?) in her feathers, in Baker's iconic book on the Peregrine he describes how the birds love to bathe every day. I've never seen this, and the Avon looks very mucky! At Sea Walls a few Redshank were probing the mud, and a Swan was sitting at the edge preening his feathers. On the Downs, flocks of Starling and a lot of Rooks and Jackdaws; the latter flock were wheeling around in a large group, but broke up to move off in different directions. It almost looked like a command from a leader.

Friday 20th February

I should have guessed when I saw two Oyster Catchers on the mud just below Black Rocks Quarry that this would be an interesting morning! When I reached the Peregrine Watch I noticed, even before I was off my bike, two Peregrines in the oak opposite. They moved a little during my stay, but were otherwise stationary, the male, smaller and facing - a white light in the tree - the female - larger and showing us her gray back. Then the Sparrowhawk: passing so fast within a few meters of me that I wondered what it was, it raised the Jackdaws from their tree, and disappeared, all in a fraction of a second. Then a voice from behind me said "Did you see the Sparrowhawk?". Next a couple of Redshank flew low over the river. The numerous Gulls rose as one from the river edge, wheeled and landed on the mud again. What caused that? We then saw the two Ravens return to inspect their nest up on the cliff, they did not stop long, but will be back. The finale was to see a Cormorant fly low over the water and down river, but three other birds started to fish just below us. No sign of a catch though.

Wednesday 18th February

I have forgotten when I was last on a bicycle! Long ago, anyway with tyres pumped up and me well wrapped up, I did my Downs ride this morning. It was misty and a bit damp, on the Downs between Saville Road and the Seven Sisters there must have been a couple of hundred gulls. Some of the Black Headed Gulls are donning their summer caps. By the time I had re-circled the Downs the gulls had all departed; driven off by dogs and walkers. At Sea Walls I could see three Redshank on the mud, then at the Peregrine Watch a brief glimpse of a Peregrine as it came into the cliff. The river tide was flowing very slowly downstream; it was so calm that there were surface reflections from the trees.

All the snow has gone ... but the huge 'throne-like' object just beside the Huntingdon Elm at the end of Ladies Mile remains as a dirty pile of snowy debris. The chair and bucket have gone!

Wednesday February 11th

I walked up to the Downs via Kersteman Road and Blackboy Hill. Several Robins were establishing their territory with song, probably encouraged by blue sky and warm sun. On the Downs were many snow remains, large dirty snowballs, slight patches where the snow figures were a couple of days ago, and a huge sculpture of some sort near to the Huntingdon Elm. It looked like a large throne and had a bucket on a chair in front of it! There was still snow on Dundry and the Welsh Hills, and a large patch at the top of the Gully where the trees shade the grass.
At the Peregrine Watch I think I could see a couple of Peregrines over in the Leigh Woods oak trees, but maybe one was a pigeon fluffed up against the cold. At around 3pm from Sea Walls the sunshine was shining right into the Peregrine nest, and illuminating the cliff around. Was there another peregrine perched just beside the nest on the cliff, it seemed to move a little, but the effect could have been a trick of the sunlight? There were gulls on the mud, one had a black head like a Black Headed Gull; it seems a little early for these birds to loose their head-phone appearance. One lone Redshank, and a Cormorant flying down river.
Walking back across towards White Tree and past the Seven Sisters I wondered if it is still possible to see 'Quarry 1' (Gerry Nichols - Bristol Branch of the Historical Association, 2005, No 116). Maybe.

Thursday 5th February

Another day for walking rather than cycling, though the main roads were not too bad. I walked over the Downland to the Peregrine Watch, then back again, missing out Sea Walls. Unlike the pristine snow of Tuesday morning there were patches of mud, grass and snow, and a jumble of footprints. The population of Bristol were out rolling huge snowballs and building statues and snow people. My favorite was a statue of a couple embracing, the sculptor stands beside his creation - he was from University Close - the University had the afternoon off for a Union Meeting.
At the Peregrine Watch. It was very difficult to see if there were any birds in the Leigh Woods trees. With all the leaves down, and snow on the ground between the trees the woodland floor dominates the view. All the little glades stand out from the surrounding trees.
Now, if it flies like a pigeon, and looks much like a pigeon, even through cold glasses and watery eyes, then why was it chasing a Seagull? Maybe we have some rabid pigeons out over the river ...

There were many huge balls of snow, very dirty from the mud they had collected, and leaving large tracks on the grass. Some of the snowman-artwork was very clever, several igloos, one with a shopping trolley balanced on it, and I'm told there was a dragon over by Blackboy Hill. There were also a few phallic creations! No imagination some people. I did like this quartet of snow people.

The Seven Young Sisters and their three Maiden Aunts in the snow.

Tuesday 3rd February

Snow! There was a large snowman beside Ladies Mile. For once I was up early, walking through quiet back streets to the Downs to see the sunrise. Then a walk over the snow to Sea Walls from the Granny Down, passing the Water Tower and back via Redland Green was about my limit without becoming frozen. The playground loved by my grandsons looked very cold - although they seem to be enjoying the snow up in Sheffield. There were very few birds around, certainly no Redshank on the estuary mud, one Rook (you can just see his grey beak) was picking through the snow as I walked towards Sea Walls.

The trees beside the Water Tower on Stoke Road. Just before sunrise.

Sunrise. A clear blue sky made the sunrise a spectacular event.


Reflections off the windows of the house by Sea Walls. A rather forlorn Rook! Enlarge the picture (by clicking) and you can see his large grey beak.

Black Rocks, Sea Walls. No climbers today.

Blackboy Hill. The sun was getting higher by the time I crossed the Down beside the Dumps.


Joseph and William enjoying the snow in their back garden in Sheffield. The last time we had snow like this in Bristol 'Mum' was not much older than Joseph! I remember that it was very cold in Ashton Court, 1980 perhaps?

Redland Park The children's playground.

... and the snow returned again with a vengeance on Thursday night ...

Monday 26th January

A cold circuit today! Gulls and some Redshank on the mud, the Jackdaws quite the Gorge just as I arrived, and a Raven flapped up river. The BBC's refusal to support the DEC Gaza appeal shocks me. So I'm changing my top line on the blog for the duration of the appeal - which may be a very long time if the 'war' restarts.