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: 

This is the view of the big field, towards the spinney.

Here is the view towards the old quarries:

Now looking from the spinney across the whole expanse of the ravens field, towards the far corner:

In the ravens field, as we walked across to the allotment fence, the bold raven's companion came and took a couple of scraps.
One other raven was visible in the distance - probably again one of the quarry pair. 

As we walked on, and paused to take more photos, she flew into the trees. From there, she made a few quorking noises, which were answered by some calls coming from the allotments towards the ravens nest.

While Miss Sophie did her exercises, she flew to the middle of the ravens field, while the other raven had another go at the seagulls - some squawking alerted me to what he was doing. 

But this was quite a distance away.

When we turned towards the spinney, I stopped to throw a few scraps. She was half-way down the field from us - but she walked towards the scraps - she did not swoop to them, as all the ravens used to do in the winter and spring. 

So I think the moult must be affecting her ability to swoop. The other raven didn't come at all. 

She tried to make a hole for the scraps, but eyeing the hard ground, she gave up and swallowed them. She did not look happy and vigorous.

We all hope for some rain now - the soil is hard as rock, and going out later in the day is impossible, Miss Sophie is not happy in the heat. Who would be, having to wear a black fur coat!