Dec 5th

There was rain in the night, but it had stopped by the time we left the house at 7.45 a.m.

It was mild - feeling like spring after that freezing day yesterday. It was still dark and overcast - no impressive sunrise, but the waning moon, now about 3/4 full, was still prominent in the West.

I was not certain what the ravens would do. There was an almighty kerfuffle half an hour before we left. I heard it from the back of the house, so it must have coming from Pontcanna Fields. I could hear magpies with their cackling, jackdaws or crows, and ravens - all croaking and cawing together. 

Interesting to note that the ravens have a much deeper voice, and a slower repetition when calling than the jackdaws. I say jackdaws because, while these might have been crows, I know that there is a large number of jackdaws around.

We went to the top of the big field - no further, as Madame is still not well enough. 

First one raven came, then the second. This was my young pair, and one of them was less timid and came closer towards us for his scraps - about 2 yards. 

As they both were picking the scraps, another pair appeared and landed on the field. There was a brief flapping of wings as the first pair tried to scare the second lot away, but in the end, they all stood in a semi-circle around us, about 3 yards away, waiting for their scraps. 

In each pair, one raven fluffed their feathers and did that juvenile begging motion with the croaking - but they did that not towards the other raven, nor towards me - they had their backs turned towards us!

They did turn back towards us after they'd finished, and waited for their scraps as the other two did.

Interestingly, the two non-begging ravens were the ones who tried to snatch more of the scraps - and succeeding. All four followed us as we slowly went back - walking, not flying!

They stopped as soon as we were level with the bottom fence of the enclosure in the big field, and flew off. By that time, I had run out of food anyway.

What will tomorrow bring? More rain, thats for sure. 

I wonder if the bold raven and his companion will come back - or have they given up this area of Llandaff Fields to these younger ravens? 

I'd love to investigate this - but with Madame unwell it isn't possible for the time being.

Dec 4th

It was a very cold night, and when we left the house at 7.40 a.m., there was a slight mist over Llandaff Fields, the grass was heavily frosted and the temperature was just above freezing. There was no wind, it was dry, but too cloudy for an impressive sunrise.

The waning moon was still very impressive, big and pale, visible behind the veil of mist. Later, the clouds in the West had a beautiful rose-grey tinge.

Madame coped very well, there was no episode of being even slightly off-balance, but I didn't want to overdo it, so we only made it to the top of the big field. I did let her off for a few rolls on the frosty grass - she so loves doing that!

As for the ravens ...!

To start with, we heard some calls, coming from beyond Llandaff Fields. There was one poking holes in the first rugby pitch - i assumed it was my bold one, but it was still too dark to see properly. Still, I threw him a scrap. He waited to pick it up until we were well past him.

But then something totally unexpected and extraordinary happened.

As we rounded the top of the big field - two ravens came swooping down from the trees at the spinney, and they made soft croaking sounds, as if to welcome us back.

These were my young ravens. I fed them, and they walked up quite closely, to within a couple of yards.

Then - another pair appeared, and my young pair just accepted them without fuss. Just as I threw them all some scraps - two more ravens appeared!

So there was this group of six ravens, all on the ground at the top of the big field, all expecting scraps. They kept away from us a bit further than my young pair, even my bold raven who was one of that group.

They got all I had with me - Madame getting some scraps as well.

I could not believe this extraordinary event.

I've never seen all six together in one group - they are usually spread out across the whole huge area of Llandaff Fields.

I think the cold and the hard ground made them somewhat desperate for food, any food - and I think they must have observed me feeding the one or other pair.

It was wonderful! I only wish I had had more scraps with me.

We went home pretty smartly after that, because my fingers were frozen, and Madame had collected little balls of ice under her pads - the frosty stuff from the grass collects on the fur between her toes and makes it uncomfortable for her to walk. It was difficult to remove them with my icy hands.

I wonder what the ravens will do tomorrow. There will be rain, and it will be a bit warmer.

We'll have to wait and see ...!

Dec 3rd

We left the house at 7.35 a.m. It was dark, cloudy, cold, and there was some drizzle. Madame was quite happy to go out, she had a good night. 

It was amazing to see the waning moon, really huge, through the veil of clouds towards the West. What a sight!

We heard a few raven calls, and I saw one raven sitting in a tree close to the boundary to the new housing estate. Otherwise, there were none to be seen. 

We walked up the footpath along the big field, Madame on her lead. I was hoping to pick the ravens up at the top of the big field, and saw one sitting in the top branches of an ornamental cherry tree.

As we approached, he flew off towards the ravens field.

However.

There was continuous noise from an ambulance trying to get through the early morning traffic on the road running along the top of what were once quarries. And then it started to rain properly. Madame sat down, looking at me, as if to say 'help me'. I suspect the noise made her feel ill.

So I picked her up and turned back home. I carried her for a bit, then she wanted to be set down and we walked the rest of the way.

Sadly, the ravens had to make do without my scraps of meat today. I don't know if we'll be able to feed them tomorrow - Madame's well-being has priority. 

I will take the scraps with me, however, just in case ...

Dec 2nd

The good news is that Madame was allowed to come home  today, from the vet's hospital. She is still a bit shaky, but time will make her better, I hope.

The raven news - well, that was very interesting!

I left the house around 7.40. It was much milder than yesterday, but very cloudy, with a hint of drizzle, and no sun, but also no arctic winds.

There were a few raven calls, but I didn't see one raven the whole length of Llandaff fields, until I came to the ravens field. Then, i saw one flying to sit on the top branch of one of the trees near the spinney. 

He did not come down into the big field, nor did he come into the ravens field until I was nearly up to the top enclosure where I feed them. A second raven joined him - but they kept the whole enclosure between themselves and me, so I could not make out who they were. 

They did pick up the scraps, but were not waiting for me to throw them, as the bold one and even the young pair have been doing.

I'd say though that they were definitely not the pair with the bold raven.

They might have been the young pair, and might have been very confused and scared, seeing me on my own, without Madame.

If so - then the question arises why, after a good ten days, they don't recognise me on my own, and why, seeing me on my own, they were so scared? I was wearing the same clothes, after all.

Compare this with the 'recognition experiment', involving the bold raven, on Nov, 11th.

If they were the third pair, the pair I fed by mistake in the field next to the old quarries, when it was too dark for me to see that they were not the bold pair - then what has happened to my young pair?

Very odd.

 

I don't know yet what will happen tomorrow  - it depends on how Madame is doing for the rest of today, overnight, and in the morning.

We'll have to wait and see ...

Dec 1st

I am writing this with a very  heavy heart. 

I had to rush my dear little Madame to the vet this morning, as an emergency. It is Vestibular Disease - she needs to stay in the vet's hospital.

It was such a wonderful early morning. We left the house at 7.30. The sunrise was incredible: dramatic, from deepest red to palest yellow. so beautiful! 

There was frost on the grass - and Madame so enjoyed rolling on that grass. It was dry, but the wind came from the Arctic, so it was really cold.

We went across the big field, so Madame could roll to her heart's content.

There were a few raven calls, and as we reached the horse chestnut avenue, we saw four ravens fly high above us, towards the South West. I didn't think we'd see any of them today - but as soon as we came to the little arboretum, there they were, waiting for us.

It was again the young pair. 

We went through the usual feeding routine, and I found it interesting to see that it is the smaller, slimmer raven who does the snatching. 

This raven is still skittish, the other a bit less so, but the bigger raven, who doesn't snatch as much scraps as he can, seems to wait a bit, as if to see if the smaller one wants the scrap, before he takes it.

We went back home along the 'no-more-food' way - one raven followed us. He didn't follow closely, he waited util he saw where we went, and then flew to sit on the shed roof.

I don't know what will happen with my beloved little Madame. I'll be told later today. 

If she has to stay in the vet's hospital overnight, then I will go out on my own, to feed the ravens. 

I don't know if I'll be able to do this if I have to say good-bye to her tonight.

Keep us in your thoughts.