Another icy night, with clear skies, so this morning there was another nice sunrise. Again there was frost on the ground. Although the robins and blackbirds did sing before dawn, the ravens did not call.
Once I got into Llandaff Fields, having left the house at 6.55 a.m. (yeah, I know - later than I aimed for ...), there were raven calls coming from all the boundaries. None was visible in the treetops, however, and none turned up until I had reached the top of the big field, standing at the enclosure for a minute or so.
On the way there, I counted fifty black-headed seagulls sitting (literally!) on the ground - a few were standing, as if to keep watch, the rest seemed to be sleeping. They flew off when I walked past, a good twenty feet away. Only after they had gone - by which time I stood at the enclosure - did the ravens turn up.
The young pair arrived first, then the bold pair coming from the ravens field, and the quarry pair were last. All six of them were very circumspect - the quarry pair still only go to pick up the scraps when I turn my back to them. One raven, each of the bold and the young pair, displayed the begging posture to their companion, and the companion of the young pair made again a cawing sound while clapping her beak.
It was still so cold that I went home as soon as I had distributed most of the scraps: the ravens, having picked up what they could, had gone to hide their booty and I didn't feel like waiting around.
However, as I was halfway back down the big field, the quarry pair appeared again, followed me on the ground, walking, then flew to sit on the crosspost of the rugby goal posts, watching me.
So I threw them the last of the scraps - and yet gain, they waited until I had turned my back and walked away before they came to pick them up.
There were no dogs around, it was far too early, its being Sunday - but I did meet Bart when I left the car park: he'd just arrived in 'his' car. So I did get to give him a few cuddles.
Note to self: must try harder to get out before sunrise tomorrow!
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