June 12th

We left the house at 6.35 a.m., to another beautiful, fresh and sunny early summer morning, with lots of sunshine, some white clouds, and a slight breeze.

Today we went to that little grassy piece behind the toddlers' playground, because the tree with the raven's nest stands at one end. I wanted to see if any ravens were about, and what they'd do.

None were on the ground, but we could hear them call from the huge holm oaks which are in a line close to the wall behind the toddlers' playground.

Walking on towards the riding stables, I saw a black feather on the ground. I picked it up to see if it was a raven feather - I think so, but it was manky, so I threw it away again.

Immediately after that feather landed on the grass, a raven came swooping from one of the hold oaks. He investigated the feather, and I saw it was the 'roman' raven. 

I threw him a scrap, he was very skittish indeed, but picked it up after we'd walked on. He immediately flew back into the holm oaks.

We went down Pontcanna Fields, right to the river. No ravens about. 

I wanted to see how Miss Sophie would cope with the pedestrian suspension bridge, so we walked across it and back. She was a bit scared, especially when the bridge started to bounce a bit. 

But - we were rewarded with the sight of two swans, right next to the bridge, grooming themselves while paddling. 

There was also a little group of mallards which stood on the stones forming the top of the weir. And as we crossed back, a heron came flying in, settling on a rock below the weir.

The ravens we saw on the way back did not come and pick up the scraps - I am certain now that they belong to a different group.

Many grasses and some wild flowers have now started to flower, looking beautiful.