April 21st

Well! Today was another day for a raven surprise!

We left the house at 6.35 a.m., to bright sunshine, an icy breeze from the NW, blue sky - and the first contrails criss-crossing the sky because the first planes were arrivening from the USA, the flight bann having been sort of lifted.

Llandaff Fields was empty except for some joggers. There were no raven calls, and no ravens to be seen until we got to the ravens field.

We noted on the way that the wire fencings had been removed from the enclosure in the big field, and from the lower enclosure in the ravens field. The top enclosure there, where I feed the ravens, still had the fencing in place.

April 20th

Yet another cold morning, with clear skies and bright sunshine, but frost on the grass ...

It was lovely and quiet yet again. I should point out that we're under the flight path for the international flights from the USA, via Ireland, so since last Thursday, the effects of the flight ban, due to the ashes from the Icelandic volcano, are quite noticeable.

We left the house at 6.40 a.m. and got to the top of the big field without hearing or seeing one raven. The usual dog walkers weren't out yet - but some people did physical exercises, push-ups and all, so Miss Sophie was not sure if she ought to be scared or interested.

April 19th

It was not as cold this morning as it has been previously: there was no frost on the grass! There were thin clouds in the sky, and a definite haze. I don't know if that was due to the Icelandic volcano's ashes, not having a huge amount of knowledge of clouds ... 

Certainly the birds were not affected.

We left the house at 6.40 a.m. and did the usual round. This morning, a single raven flew to the ground as we came into the ravens field. 

Sunday, April 18th

It was another brilliant morning, with bright sunshine and a cloudless sky. The icy wind has now dropped to barely noticeable, but it is still very cold. There was again frost on the grass, and I still have to wear gloves on these early morning walks.

We left the house at 6.50 a.m. (that is the extent of my Sunday lay-in ...), and again heard some raven calls from the distance.

April 17th

We left the house at 6.45 a.m. It was a brilliant morning:  a clear blue sky, bright sunlight, and only a slight, cold Northerly breeze. However, it was so cold during the night that there was frost on the grass in Llandaff Fields!

We had heard some raven calls earlier, and when we got to the ravens field, two ravens flew across from the quarry side towards the allotments and Pontcanna Fields. They did not stop, however.