Fri, Sat, Mon - April 16, 17, 19

Three days cycling, with two of them early (for me), leaving home around 8am! During these days I heard Blackcaps, saw a Greenfinch, the Peregrines, a Cormorant, and the Kestrel. My principal actors! Then there were the Doves, Pigeons, Rooks, Crows and Jackdaw pairs. Over on the Raven nest black heads can be seen, someone mentioned two chicks? On Saturday there was an 'extra' Peregrine, it was chased vigorously by one of the residents. I had a brief glimpse of the Kestrel leaving the rock face near last year's nest,so assume that they are back.

Around the rest of the Downs the chestnut tress are rapidly coming into blossom. The whitebeams are forming buds, so that it is easy to see these trees amongst their neighbors in the woodland. Now is the time to photograph the whitebeams in the Gully (Walcombe Slade) before the wretched Council turns out the goats!

Mentioning BCC brings me to another grouse. This morning the refuse and plastic rubbish left by the 'Goode Cytizens of Brystle' had to be seen to be believed. It was difficult to distinguish between the plastic and the Gulls on the Downland beside Sea Walls. So much for the large, stupid, plastic notices which now adorn various parts of the Downs. I have great sympathy with the unfortunate Downs ranger assistants who have to clear this mess. On the plus side the BCC have supplied rubbish bins, but these were all full. I notice that the Zoo Parking area is larger than last year (now encompasing the pollarded ash trees), no doubt in celebration of their getting a three year free parking lease. If they were charged a decent amount, say £1000 per day they might be encouraged to go elsewhere. FODAG ("Friends" of the Downs and Avon Gorge) have issued another anodyne, uncritical, half baked comment on the parking, perhaps if they monitored the rare plants in the extended parking area it might have some meaning.

There, my rant is over!

Monday, April 12th

I cycled through Sneed Park and onto the Portway, then came up Bridge Valley Road and back via the Gorge Top path to the Peregrine Watch, then home. Just before the Peregrine Watch I spied a hunting Peregrine slowly gliding up above Nightingale Valley, eventually disappearing from my view. Earlier on the side of Portway, just below Black Rocks a Kestrel dived into a patch of daffodils and came out carrying a mouse, he flew off to the cliff, then over behind it. It looks as if the Kestrel nest is elsewhere this year, this bird did not take it's kill to the cliff above me. Earlier I had a ringside seat for a small group of Redshank on the mud/water edge - much better than the cliff top. The works on Bridge Valley Road looks very serious, I cannot see it being open for months yet.

Sunday April 11th

I cycled via Broadmead, the Docks, and then walked up the NT Nature Trail beside the river to Burwalls, to cross the Suspension Bridge. Apart from Gulls and Pigeons it was all very quiet. Many of the trees are showing buds, so in the Gorge the Whitebeams are all starting leaves. At the Peregrine Watch a Buzzard was driven away from the vicinity of the Raven's nest by one of the birds. At Sea Walls there was a solitary Redshank on the mud.

Wednesday, Thursday, April 7th, 8th

Two sunny days, it is still a little cold. The buds on the horse chestnut trees are coming greener each day, and there are buds on the whitebeams.
Wednesday: There was a very brief glimpse of a Kestrel as it flew by close under the Sea Walls cliff, a few Redshank on the mud and then a hunting Peregrine over towards the Suspension bridge.
Thursday: No Peregrines, the Raven was on its nest, there were well over 50 Redshank on the mud below Sea Walls, by far the largest number that I have seen. They are spread out all along the water edge and on the mud slopes. A set of tracks on the mud could be from a Deer, but I could not see any animal. By 11am in the morning they are all under cover, so maybe if I could get out at sunrise ...

Sunday March 28th, Tuesday April 6th

We were away last week, Monday to Friday, beside the sea at Bridport. I did see a couple of Gannets, but otherwise the weather kept most birdwatching to being a dream!
Sunday: a morning ride around the Downs; a couple of Redshank below Black Rock and a sighting of a Peregrine flying back over the Downs towards Shirehampton.
Monday: I counted 39 Redshank below the Sea Walls cliffs, mostly in two large groups on the river mud opposite, but a couple on this side. At the Peregrine Watch a bird flew from the cliff below me, and over to perch in a small ash tree opposite - looking as usual like a small lantern. The Raven was very visible on her nest. I wonder if the chicks have hatched?

Friday March 26th

Windy again and with occasional small showers, but from the south so that cycling up to Sea Walls was hard work. However a week of cycling has helped my back pains. At Sea Walls there was the largest group of Redshank that I have seen for a while, at least three dozen on the side of the river downstream and another dozen or so under the cliffs. The tide was still receding with more mud than water. A couple of days ago, at the Peregrine Watch, we could hear the lions in the Zoo roaring. Apparently it is quite common but I had not heard it before, the sound must be fearsome from just outside the cage.

Thursday March 25th

Back into shorts today - the temperature is rising! At Black Rocks the Redshank were on the mud just below the storm drain outlet. At the Peregrine Watch I was asked whether the birds were around, when low and behold a powerful grey back glided out from just underneath us, then sailed back out of sight. This was repeated several times, just as if to say, "we are here". A very small black back was just visible on the Raven nest. No Kestrels.