Town Raven

Town Raven
In flight

ITS A DIARY !

This is a diary, or rather, field notes written up each day, with the latest entry at the top.

To get the full story, start at the bottom entry in the archive, and read upwards.
Then read the current diary entries from the bottom up as well.


Once you've got the full story, just visit and read the new story for the day!

Enjoy!

Location Map

Location Map
This shows where we walk and meet the ravens
The yellow and pink squiggly lines are two walks we take. The yellow one is the one we usually do. The squigglyness indicates how Madame visits her several important sniffing check-points!
We stop several times to feed the ravens, and you can see where they come from.

If you right-click on the image and open it in a new tab, you can then zoom in to see more details.

Tuesday 30 November 2010

Tuesday Nov 30th, 2010

Grey - gloomy - cold - damp - frozen drizzle (couldn't really call it 'snow') - no sun: just right for the last day in November.

We left the house at 7.30 a.m., having a quick chat with Karen and Bas in the big field. There were no ravens watching that I could see in any of the trees.

We went into the ravens field because the one dog group had already walked past us, going back. We were the only ones, so I let Miss Sophie off the lead once we were in the far corner.

Monday 29 November 2010

Monday November 29th, 2010

No snow overnight, no dreaded Easterly winds as yet, so the temperature (28F) at 7.20 a.m. felt positively balmy, compared to yesterday.
It was a glorious sunrise, the sky pale blue and dusty pink in the North east, and the sun rising as a huge, golden orange ball around 7.50 a.m.

We met Bas and Karen at the top of the first field, and we walked across the big field together, Miss Sophie off the lead.

Sunday 28 November 2010

Sunday Nov 28th, 2010

It was a freezingly cold night - even here in Cardiff the temperature dropped to 21F.
Thankfully, we had no more snow, and the winter sun had melted some of the ice on the pavements.
So we left the house at 7.45 a.m. and went to Llandaff Fields. Two ravens came flying over from the quarry side and sat in the trees at the first field, next to the toddlers' playground. One came down when I threw a couple of scraps. But they did not follow us.

Saturday 27 November 2010

Saturday Nov 27th, 2010

It snowed a lot yesterday afternoon, and with the clear sky overnight, everything is frozen over. Pavements and roads are blank ice.
It is just as last year at Christmas.
So we stayed indoors, hoping for a bit of thawing.

Sorry, ravens.

"Wintry weather caused widespread problems on Friday, with schools closed, flights disrupted and a 26-mile tailback on the M4 in south Wales.
The UK has seen the earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years and forecasters say it could last for two weeks.
One of the coldest place overnight on Friday was Trawscoed, in west Wales, where -10.2C (14F) was recorded."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11852488

Friday 26 November 2010

Friday, Nov 26th, 2010

It was much colder than yesterday when we left the house at 7.15 a.m., which is not really surprising as there's been snow in Scotland and down the East Coast, and on the hills and mountains in Wales.
So I wrapped up warm - Miss Sophie luckily doesn't need to, seeing that she's wearing a permanent fur coat ...

We took our time getting to the tennis courts because Miss Sophie did a lot of sniffing. I was hoping to get to the ravens field - but there were too many dogs around.

Thursday 25 November 2010

Thursday, Nov 25th, 2010

Clear skies and a nice sunrise when we went out at 7.20 a.m. today.
The clear skies meant it was below freezing, and there was hoar frost on the grass.
Madame Dog would have loved it ...

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Wednesday Nov 24th, 2010

We were warned of a very cold morning early today - but when we left the house at 7.15 a.m., it was not as cold as we were led to believe. This was probably due to the low clouds which meant it was grey and damp - just like any November morning.
There was a glorious sunrise when we walked back - and now that the skies are clear, it is indeed colder than yesterday, even with the sun shining.

We walked to the tennis courts, but today the ravens were not waiting for us.
They took a while to appear, and then flew off quite soon, after having taken a few titbits only.

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Tuesday, Nov 23rd, 2010

Another typical November morning: grey, damp, no sun - and cool. It was not as cold as the weather forecast predicted, so that was good!
We went out at 7.10 a.m.. it was still dark, so Miss Sophie wore her LED collar, blinking red.

Nobody was in the tennis courts this morning, and the ravens waited for us in the cherry trees.

Monday 22 November 2010

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

We were late again today, leaving the house at 7.25 a.m. It was grey and damp, and a bit fresher than yesterday. No sun, but thankfully no wind either.

We made straight for the tennis courts, and the ravens were waiting for us in the cherry trees.
To our surprise, someone else was n 'our' court already - a man with a husky, which we've seen before. That husky is friendly, but an escape artist, and the man used the courts because he'd seen me do it!

We went into the adjoining one, but I am careful in there because there is a gap between the fence and the wall, where Miss Sophie would be able to slink through if a squirrel needed to be chased ... so I kept her on her lead.

The ravens were a bit confused - while the man and I chatted before he left, they sat on the top fence, looking down, not sure what was going on.

Sunday 21 November 2010

Sunday, Nov 21st, 2010

Still damp, grey and gloomy - but not too cold.
We went out at 7.20 a.m. - a bit later than usual, but at least it was light, and its being Sunday, the park was empty.

We went straight to the tennis courts, the ravens were waiting for us in the cherry trees.

Saturday 20 November 2010

Saturday, Nov 20th, 2010

Lots of rain overnight, and still raining in the morning. It was also grey, grim and cold - and MissSophie did not fancy going out into the back garden.

So we only took a brief walk along the avenue in Pontcanna Fields, me still creeping along like a hundred-year old who'd had mislaid her Zimmer frame ...

Thus - no ravens today either.

Friday 19 November 2010

Friday, Nov 19th, 2010

It was cold and foggy today, with rather heavy mist over the big field and the other fields in Llandaff Fields.

We only walked round the first field - make that: 'hobbled'! I didn't want to deprive Miss Sophie of her outing, and moving about if at all possible is good for me - and that sciatica ... or so they say ...

We didn't see any ravens because we didn't venture as far as where they wait for us.

Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day, sciatica-wise.

Thursday 18 November 2010

Thursday Nov 18th, 2010

Posting at this early time, when Miss Sophie and I are usually out - because it is indoor games for her, and no visit to the ravens ...

Unfortunately, I have got sciatica and am a bit incapacitated.

Hopefully I can start creeping about tomorrow.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Wednesday, Nov 17th, 2010

Heavy rain overnight - and still some coming down when we went out at 7.10 a.m. At least it was a bit warmer, even though the wind was coming from the East at some point and thus was a bit ... cutting ...

We went back into the tennis courts again today, as there was now no danger of slipping and sliding.
The ravens were rather uncertain about what we meant to do! They flew from the cherry trees into the big field, on our left as we walked along the footpath.

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Tuesday, Nov 16th, 2010

What a grim morning!
It was just above freezing when we left the house at 7.10 in the morning, and there was frost on the grass in Llandaff Fields, but it was bright.
The paths felt a bit slithery, so we went into the ravens field instead of the tennis court, because these courts are hard.

Monday 15 November 2010

Monday, Nov 15th, 2010

Clear skies overnight meant that the temperature was just above freezing when we left the house shortly after 7 a.m. There was no wind to speak of, but a high, thin fog hid the sun until we were on our way back.

On the way to the tennis courts we'd met Billy and Marianne, whom we hadn't seen for some time. Billy disregarded Miss Sophie, and she disregarded him. But - she did sniff the long stick he'd carried with him. He had dropped it to run after a tennis ball. MissSophie took the end into her mouth

Sunday 14 November 2010

Remembrance Sunday - Nov 14th, 2010

Another grey and damp November morning, and rather cool as well.
We went out at 7.15 a.m. and the first raven waited for us at the toddlers' playground.

As soon as we were inside the tennis courts, his companion came as well, and both got their titbits while I did more training with MissSophie. She is starting to grasp that if she doesn't come on my call, I walk off, leaving her alone. So she does come running - well, rushing along five tennis courts is a good bit of exercise for her.

Saturday 13 November 2010

Saturday, Nov 13th, 2010

Rain overnight, but only some faint drizzle when we left the house at 7.10 a.m. No wind, so it felt mild.

We went straight to the tennis courts - the ravens only came once we were inside. Their behaviour has not changed at all.

Miss Sophie chased one, who flew off, cawing, to sit on one of the nets.

Friday 12 November 2010

Friday, Nov 12th, 2010

The gale force winds had abated over the night so that when we left the house at 7 a.m. it was only blowing strongly, with some heavier gusts in between. There were also some brief spurts of rain mixed in with the drizzle. It felt a bit warmer than yesterday.

It was still dark, so Miss Sophie was wearing her little LED light collar again.
The ravens picked us up once we were in the tennis courts. Today they didn't wait, expectantly, sitting in a tree as one of them did yesterday.

Thursday 11 November 2010

Remembrance Day - Thursday, Nov 11th, 2010

It was wild weather this morning - and it is still continuing.

We left much later, about 7.10 a.m., to howling winds and gusting, strong rain. I had planned to have a short walk only - but one raven spotted us and flew to sit on a cherry tree near the path we use to get into the tennis courts. He looked so miserable, and I didn't have the heart to disappoint him!

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Wednesday, Nov 10th, 2010

It was five minutes to seven in the morning when we left the house.

The sky was clear, a beautiful dawn - but it was pretty cold. There was no rain or drizzle, but the NW wind was rather penetrating.

The ravens picked us up just after we'd gone past the toddlers' playground, following us into the tennis courts. Again I noticed how they prefer me turning my back to them after I've thrown some food items - they do not want to be observed. One came within a foot of my back, flying off onto the fence when I turned round.

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Tues Nov 9th, 2010

We left at about 6.45 a.m. It was very dark because of heavy clouds. It was cold, with icy winds from various directions - and it was drizzling.

Miss Sophie wore her LED collar with blinking red lights, but even so the ravens only came after we'd been in the tennis courts for a good ten minutes.
I think they just couldn't see us properly in the gloom!

Monday 8 November 2010

Nov 8th, 2010

The storm did its work during the night. When we went out at about 7 a.m., there were lots of twigs and small branches on the ground, and lots more leaves. The playing fields were sodden, and there were some rather large puddles on the hard ground of the tennis courts.
Thankfully, the biggest was in a place Miss Sophie doesn't run through ...!

It was cold and clear, and there was no wind. The sun was hidden behind high clouds.

The two ravens picked us up when we reached the vicinity of the tennis courts and followed us inside, again sitting on the high fencing.

Sunday 7 November 2010

Sunday, Nov 7th, 2010

After a prolonged absence, I'll pick up the town raven diary again.

It is about a year since we first encountered the ravens, and much has changed. During the summer, due to Miss Sophie, I did not go to the ravens field much because she needed so much basic training. We spent a lot of time in Pontcanna Fields where there were a lot of crows and the ravens kept away.

Since the Autumn Equinox we went back to the Ravens Field, and a pair of ravens was there.
However, as the mornings got darker and darker, I could not make out who they were - except that the bold raven was not amongst them.

With the clocks back on GMT since last Sunday, and thus more daylight, we have been met by this pair of ravens every morning. They usually picked us up as we approached the toddlers' playground.

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