Sunday, May 9th

This morning was a cold and gloomy as yesterday. It was still so cold that gloves were a 'must'. Of course, there was no sunshine.

We left the house at 6.40 a.m. Llandaff Fields was empty except for one jogger and his dog Tyler, a standard poodle who was heartily disliked by Big Dog and Madame, for having no dog manners. So Miss Sophie and I always take avoiding actions when we see him.

We followed the same route as the previous days, did repeats of the obedience sets Miss Sophie has to learn, and got to the small arboretum. Still in the quarry field, the companion of the bold raven picked us up. She again had her head feathers raised.

I threw her a few scraps while we walked on into the ravens field.

She followed us - the bold raven did not turn up today. 

Unlike him, she did not eat the scraps but always buried one in a hole she made, then flew off with the second, towards Pontcanna Field. 

She came back a few times while we walked round the ravens field, and again, unlike the bold raven, she often walked on my left side, next to Miss Sophie, who is now striving not to notice the ravens - and she is definitely not lunging at them, even if they are as close as a yard from us.

This raven also has her eyes set deep - even deeper than the bold raven, and she looks as if she is peering out from underneath a thick fringe. 

Coming to the tennis courts, I saw her land on a low branch of one of the maples there - well hidden by the leaves. She came down after I'd thrown a few more scraps.

Walking back the more-food way, we saw a few jackdaws sitting on the ground, at the top end of the big field. 

My raven came swooping down from around the spinney, and flying, at speed but low to the ground, towards the jackdaws. They took off immediately! 

So she got a few more scraps. She left us as we got to the toddlers playground.

It looks as if this route is being observed by the bold pair - I have not seen the quarry pair for some time now. The young pair seem to 'cover' Pontcanna Fields. 

We'll probably try and shorten the walk down the quarry side, but go to Pontcanna Fields on our way back, tomorrow, to see what is happening at the nest.