June 29th

Bliss - we've had some rain during the night! 

it was mild nevertheless when we went out at 6.40 a.m., not to sunshine but to a grey sky, and still some dampness with a few drops of wet intersprinkled ...

We again walked to the ravens field straight away, checking on what remained of yesterday morning's feast. There were two patches of cooked rice, probably too small for the corvids and seagulls, and too strange for the other birds.

In the ravens field, there were no ravens at first, just a handfull of jackdaws at the bottom. Once we' walked to the far end and started on the way back - Miss Sophie doing some more exercises - the quarry raven came, then the bold one. 

June 28th

We went out at 6.40 a.m. and found a quite dense early morning mist, hiding the sun. The visibility was similar to the days of autumn mists - I couldn't see the spire of the Cathedral even from the ravens field. 

For the first time in a good week there was a bit of dew on the grass. It was quite mild, though. By the time we went home, an hour later, the sun had burned off the mist and the sky was blue again.

We went to the ravens field straight away, the big field and the ravens field populated by lots of jackdaws and seagulls. This year's juvenile seagulls were there, with their black beaks and brown flecked feathers. The jackdaw juveniles were begging their parents, with the same position we saw from the ravens in the winter. Their parents though have started to push them away, so they learn to fend for themselves.

Once we were at the far end of the ravens field, two ravens eventually turned up, sitting on what used to be the top enclosure where I used to feed them. This is one place where the grass is less burned than anywhere else.

Sunday, June 27th

Yes - it was again warm, dry and sunny, with the hint of an early-morning mist being burnt off very quickly. There was no dew on the few green grasses which were dotted here and there in the great expanse of scorched playing fields.

We went out at 6.45 a.m. and actually did hear a few raven calls, but on the big field and the ravens field, all we saw were lots of jackdaws and seagulls, with a few wood pigeons in amongst them.

I took photos of the scorched fields - here: 

June 26th

Another warm, dry and sunny morning, with only a whisper of a breeze. 

We left the house at 6.55 a.m. and went again straight to the ravens field. As in the last mornings, the big field and the bottom of the ravens field was populated by jackdaws and seagulls. There was even a black-headed gull in the ravens field - what it was doing there, at this time of its breeding cycle, I don't know! 

But it certainly couldn't have been more black-headed!

The same two ravens - one of the quarry pair, and the bold raven's companion - were in the ravens field.

June 25th

It was a beautiful summer morning today, with sunshine and a few clouds on the blue sky. There was a very slight breeze - just nice!

We went out at 6.45 a.m., and went agains traight to the ravens field. as yesterday, there were many jackdaws on the big field, and some seagulls.

Again, as yesterday, one raven picked us up as we were at the far corner, near the wall and the allotment fence. it was the Roman raven, and he took a few scraps, but only after we'd walked on.