July 2023

26th. Several silver-washed fritillaries fed on hemp agrimony in Leigh Woods.

23rd. The Matthew sailing into Bristol.

The juvenile peregrines in the gorge continue to impress, and show tremendous agility, some of which they need for the food passes from their parents. One of the juveniles is obviously a large female, the other is smaller and may be a tiercel? I used the electronic shutter on the R5 to get 20 frames per second, and later wondered - why hadn't I done that before? I experienced no obvious background banding.

The manoeuvres above were in response to escaping a herring gull which the peregrine was tormenting until the gull decided it had enough. I also witnessed a food drop and a food pass on the other side of the gorge. The falcon (red ring visible) arrived carrying a dead pigeon. The larger juvenile took the pigeon in its talons, and flew off with it, only for the smaller juvenile to attempt stealing the pigeon in flight (it failed). I could only work out what was going on in the high-speed encounter through using the electronic shutter on the camera at 20 frames per second.

19th-21st. The kestrel family in the gorge continues to entertain. There are four fledglings, and they practising-hover at very close range.

Some context photos, with the suspension bridge and Clifton Village in the background.

Some closer views.

The male doesn't have an obvious moustachial stripe.

The peregrines in the gorge raised two chicks. The female was new - a two-year old bird from Cheltenham - and she appears to be a great mother. The chicks are play-hunting gulls, and the parents are still returning food, sometimes passing it to the fledglings in flight.

15th. Just like 2 years ago, the kestrel fledglings are very approachable near the Clifton Observatory.

8th. Porthminster. We visited the colony of black mining bees Andrena pilipes after reading an article in the St Ives Times and Echo. Flight photos of a female, I think the resting one is a male of the same species. Several were eaten by house sparrows.

A yellow-legged mining bee Andrena flavipes.

Hornet mimic hoverfly Volucella zonaria.

5th. St Ives Island  08.30-09.15h: ca. 70 Manx shearwaters/ minute, 12 common scoter.

2nd. Slimbridge - no sign of the bluethroat on a windy afternoon. The black-winged stilt is still present. Three swifts over Bishopston.

1st. An afternoon at the North Somerset Birds of Prey Centre as a delayed birthday present with my daughters. Boobook and eagle owl below.