Another fresh and dry morning, albeit with no sun. They sky was mostly couldy, but the rain has not yet arrived.
We went out at 6.40 a.m., going to the ravens field straight away.
In the ravens field, three dogs and their owners were walking back to the big field, so it was no surprise that no raven came to get some scraps from us. Only when we reached the far end, the fence next to the allotments, did one raven turn up. This raven was very shy and waited until we'd gone quite some distance before he picked up the scraps I'd thrown. I think it was one of the quarry pair because he flew off towards that part of Llandaff Fields after having taken the scraps. He did not fly towards the ravens nest.
We did our exercises, spending some time walking back and forth, but no other raven turned up. Miss Sophie is doing very well on the trailing lead. She even came back when an lovely bouncy Springer Spaniel rounded the spinney.
That, and other dogs appearing from round the spinney meant that the ravens did not come. I also think they must have found some other food sources closer to the nest - like all the waste baskets stuffed with food waste left over from the warm evenings this past weekend.
Yesterday I saw one raven in the street who had taken a bag with some food remains from the waste basket at the car park at Llandaff Fields.
He very cleverly put his one foot on the bag and tore at the open side with his beak, until he could get into the bag and eat whatever was in it.
Last night I dreamed I was on a bus, and three ravens entered: a 'daddy' raven, a 'mummy' raven and a 'child' raven!
The parents fed the fledgling, which was trying to hang upside down. It was much smaller and fluffy - a bit like a puppy with puppy fur.
All I can say that this dream is proof - if one was needed! - that I've got ravens on my brain ...
Later in the afternoon we went to Pontcanna Fields. The sky was grey, with some thick clouds, and there were a few fat raindrops coming down.
The were hardly any people out, but groundsmen were working, mowing the grass, so the ravens were keeping out of their - and our - way. None came even close to us, in spite of Miss Sophie not even looking at them, never mind trying to chase them.
'Real' rain forecast for the evening, night, and tomorrow morning ...
2 comments:
Hi {Yma} - this is realwest! You, "ravens on the brain" NO,NEVER! LOL!
I'm so glad to hear that all your patient training of Miss Sophie is paying off; seems like just a few weeks ago, she'd have growled and maybe even snapped at the Spaniel!
And the Ravens will be there, or come back when the sloppy people stop leaving their "snacks" behind for the Ravens!
Hiya, realwest -
yes, Miss Sophie has made good progress, a few weeks ago she'd have been oblivious to me calling her, even.
If the raven fledglings are out, they'll soon make an appearance, begging their parents for food - on the ground. At that time, the adult raven generation will be even more pushed for food, so no matter what, I'm sure they'll be back!
I saw them first a year ago, and at that time they all were 'single', and not around in pairs. And besides the food waste they can find, there are now all those juicy grubs, slugs, snails, worms etc ... for them to eat.
I hope you haven't read this while having your breakfast!
I just hope they've been successful, raising a clutch of fledglings this year.
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