Disaster!
A truly bad raven day - this is what happened:
We left the house about ten minutes earlier than yesterday. It was still blowing quite strongly, but it didn't rain, and while it was a bit chilly, the sun was peeping out from behind the clouds.
So I took my camera with me.
One solitary raven was in the very first field - not interested in us. We walked up to the big field, no ravens in sight, although there were some calls coming from Pontcanna Fields. Lots of seagulls flying above us, obviously enjoying the strong winds.
Then, I saw two ravens at the top of the big field. We were still quite some distance away. They did not approach us, and I wasn't sure which pair they were, 'my' ravens or the young ones. Madame ran up to them and they flapped away, but settled on the ground again, without coming closer.
I then took a photo - and the flash scared them off.
They did not come back for scraps, and they did not follow us into the ravens field.
As we slowly walked up to the enclosure, one raven flew into it - we were still quite a distance away.
I walked round the fence. The second raven came - but neither of them approached me, and they waited to pick up the scraps until we were about ten yards away. Also, each flew off immediately after taking one scrap.
We went back to the big field. One raven followed, but very warily and yards away - nothing like my bold raven. He made himself look very slim while he followed. He did not follow us round the spinney into the big field.
It was so sad - and my own stupid fault for not disengaging the autoflash.
So - were these my ravens, totally scared and distrustful? Then I'll have to start again and regain their trust.
Or were these the young ones, equally scared? It could have been ...
It might perhaps have been the third pair which we saw the other day - distrustful, unused to us, and very scared but taking the scraps anyway.
If so - what happened to my ravens?
I'm at a loss, and can only hope for better things tomorrow.
