Wednesday, Friday 21st, 23rd October

On Wednesday afternoon I cycled over the Downs and over to Blackwells to pick up a book. On the way over I stopped at Sea Walls, it was low tide, a number of Redshank were feeding on the mud. A Cormorant flew upstream, scattering a group of gulls en route, it barged past one of the gulls and nearly knocked it from the sky! I saw some very unusual behaviour by a Raven. The bird was gliding around in the Gorge thermals, it scarcely moved a wing, but every now and then folded its wings, and tipped sideways slightly, going into a short peregrine-like swoop. This flight pattern went on for five to ten minutes. Then over by the Peregrine Watch I saw two Ravens, one was perched on their nest at the top of the quarry. There was no sign of a Peregrine.
On Friday I completed my "10 mile" trip for the first time in a couple of weeks. The tide was high and still coming in. Apart from some friendly Jackdaws and the usual Wood Pigeons and Gulls, I noticed few other birds.

Monday October 12th

My first bike ride for over a week, the weather tempted me out, with a radiant blue sky and no wind. The tide was coming in, but also imperceptibly slowly, so that the floating gulls scarcely moved. There were about five Redshank down river from Sea Walls, otherwise it was very quiet in bird land. No raptors!

Thursday 1st October

The trees on Saville Road are shedding large numbers of conkers so that it looks like a huge contest has taken place. The road is peppered with car-crushed conkers. Likewise the trees are loosing leaves, and the chestnuts are the first to do so. At Sea Walls I saw a single Redshank on the mud just opposite, very still, with the eponymous legs bright in the sunshine, it did settle its wings now and then so that the white patches flashed. Lots of ducks and gulls lined the mud and swam at the river edges; the tide was receding. At the Peregrine Watch a Peregrine was perched at the base of the banana tree, it was almost invisible among the sun lite parts of the tree.

Tuesday 29th Septermber

From Sea Walls: 2 Redshank, one up stream, the other down stream; a Cormorant on some low tide rocks (shared with a duck!); a Heron by the storm drain. The occupant of the little red car had just fed the Rooks, Crows, Jackdaws and various Gulls, and a large, hairy, floppy dog was chasing among them to loud caws of disgust. The birds were persistent in getting the remaining bits of bread and dodging the stupid hound.
At the Peregrine Watch we saw all three birds. The male in a close majestic fly-past, he disappeared off towards Avonmouth; the female was over in the banana tree; the juvenile appeared from the cliff beneath us, and eventually disappeared off over Leigh Woods in a swoop. Several groups of Mallard flew up river, Gulls and more Mallard swam on the tide. A pair of Mute Swans came low over us, their wings making that lovely whooping sigh of a sound. Over at the top of the quarry to the right a small red brown speck looked like a Roe Deer, but I said it looked more like a Tamworth pig! Then a Fox appeared over to the other side of the quarry. So was the first sighting a Deer or a Fox? The morning was capped with a beautiful blue sky. Magical.

Monday 28th September

A week has gone past since my last bike ride. No excuses! This morning was dull and cold, the trees are turning drab green-grey but also getting autumn colours. In the quarry opposite the Peregrine Watch two people were armed with cans and gloves which looked like herbicide to kill trees! The quarry already has a number of dead trees in it, no doubt more will appear in the new year. Someone should suggest to the National Trust that they find better ways of removing small trees that they don't want. The present method leaves an unsightly mess, especially through binoculars from the Peregrine Watch.
A Peregrine was perched in the banana tree. On the estuary mud below Sea Walls I spotted a couple of Redshank.

Friday, (Saturday), Monday. Sept 18, 19, 21

On Friday I cycled through town, out along the Portway (ugh) and back up through Snyed Park then via Sea Walls. There were no Redshank or Peregrines visible from the Portway, though I did spot a Buzzard and a Redshank once I got back onto the Downs. Saturday it went down to the docks to watch our new morris side, Nonesuch. Lots of photos here!
Today's ride delivered a Buzzard and a Peregrine over in the banana tree. The Peregrine disappeared whilst I wasn't looking, I did not see him move. There was a very high tide which had just started to ebb, it had dangerous looking tree debris in it. The chestnuts are changing colour to red and yellows, and a cycle helmet is useful to ward off falling conkers.

Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th September

The Gorge looks very different in the afternoon, it is nearly impossible to see whether a Peregrine is over in the opposite quarry. However the Swifts were flying around at cliff-top level, and I did get a brief view of a Green Woodpecker as it disappeared into Leigh Woods.
Thursday was a bright blue day. A couple of Redshank were feeding on the mud above Sea Walls. Peregrines are difficult to see even in a good light. At the Peregrine Watch it was just possible to make out the very still form of a Peregrine in the banana tree, one of the birds was spotted heading towards the Suspension Bridge, then, as I cycled along the path beside Fairyland another was pointed out on the cliff face below. It was very difficult to see, and I missed spotting it at the Peregrine Watch, however it took off and flew across the Gorge, confirming that the slight shape on the cliff was a raptor.