Feb 8th

Another winter day: grey, grim, cold - but even though the sky was covered in thick dark clouds, the lengthening daylight does hint at spring to come.

I left the house at 7.30 a.m., having heard raven calls from Pontcanna Fields, and more robins and blackbirds singing their hearts out.

As I was getting to the top of the big field, not having seen or heard a single raven, I was joined by Toby, the Border Collie, and his owner. we walked to the ravens field, chatting. One raven flew into the tall sycamore, and one, right in front of us, flew to sit on one of the fence posts at the 'usual' enclosure. 

While we walked towards it, chatting, and while I kicked Toby's tennis ball, the first raven flew from the sycamore to the maple next to the tennis courts. 

There, he made a few soft croaking sounds. 

This is the second time he has done so, he seems to do this when I am with another dog walker and dog. I think he is trying to tell me that I should give him some food - I refrain from throwing scraps to the open ground when dogs like Toby or Bas are around, because they will scoff them. 

We walked round the enclosure, I threw my scraps into it, and both ravens picked them up. It was my young pair, both again exhibiting the behaviour I have been describing at length.

As we walked back into the big field, closer to the Horse Chestnut Avenue than I usually go, one followed us, again first flying into the sycamore, then to the ground. He did get a couple of scraps as Toby had run off to greet Cookie, but flew off when Toby returned.

Today, I was able to track down the one raven who hangs about right at the entrance to Llandaff Fields. I was hoping that this might be my bold one.  It was not ... 

So more investigations needed, weather permitting. More cold and ice has been predicted for the coming days, and we don't know yet if it will engulf us here as well.

Sunday, Feb 7th

A grey, cold and grim morning. Before I left the house at 7.30 a.m., I had heard soft raven calls coming from Pontcanna Fields, and Robins and Blackbirds singing. There were grey clouds all over, no hint of dawn sunlight. Also, as time went on, the icy wind from the East picked up and made the walk uncomfortable.

I went along the pink route (see area photo above) - no ravens, although I did hear them call. In the ravens field, one raven flew to sit in the big sycamore, the other went straight into the lower enclosure. The 'tree' raven came to the ground - one of my young pair. He got some scraps - again, he waited until I had turned my back and started to walk off before he came to pick them up. The raven in the lower enclosure flew straight into the upper, usual one, when I started to walk in that direction.

As now usual, both kept their distance, both picked up only two scraps before flying off.

And only one raven followed me to the top of the big field ('more food way'), flying into the sycamore, then onto the ground. He did give me a nice, soft quorking sound, sitting in the tree, though.

After picking up a couple more scraps, he left and didn't come back.

One raven showed up when I was near the bottom of the big field - it might have been one of the quarry pair, but I can't be sure - I didn't see the brown patch on his chest. 

I didn't find the bold pair - my suspicion that they might be in the field next to the road was unfounded.

The seagulls did circle above when I started out, but had settled on the ground by the time I got to the ravens field. So today their behaviour had no influence on the brief scrap-pickings by the ravens.

I now think that they are making these short foraging visits because they might have started to build nests, or at least might have started to help their parents with nest building, if they are last year's generation. 

Corvids (that's ravens, crows, jackdaws, rooks and magpies) are known for having what is called 'helpers at the nest' in scientific literature. These are the previous generations who help their parents until they become sexually mature themselves - around the age of five.

It is still winter here - but without the snow, just the arctic wind.
I pray all of you keep safe, who are affected by 'snowmaggedon'!

Feb 6th

Interesting ... 

I did go out earlier, leaving the house at 7.05 a.m. It was cool, milder than yesterday, so no early morning mist. Also - no rain! The dawn was just starting, the robins were signing, and the waning half moon hung to my left, in the South West, as I got into Llandaff Fields. The light conditions were similar to those we encountered about six weeks agon, when Madame could still go out wiht me. Only then, we left after 7.30 a.m.

I had heard raven calls from Pontcanna Fields about 5.45 a.m. - and there were a few calls when I got into Llandaff fields. No ravens until I entered the ravens field - then one appeared in front of me, on the ground - he'd come from one of the rugby goal posts, where he had been sitting. His companion flew straight into the enclosure.

It was my young pair, still very skittish, keeping their distance, not moving until my back was turned. Interestingly, it was the turning away from them which made them feel braver - they came to pick up the scraps even if I had not moved an inch away.
Neither of them called, and I noticed that one of them only picked up scraps twice, then vanished. 

I walked back to the top of the big field. Only one of them followed, first flying into one of the big sycamores at the footpath, then following on the ground. After picking up a couple of scraps, he also vanished. 

The quarry pair did not turn up at this spot, close to the enclosure in the big field, as they used to do. They did however come when I was in the middle of the field - skittish, staying far away, but picking up a few scraps. Again, one of them flew off straight away, the other hung about for anotehr couple of scraps. That was the raven with the brown patch on his chest.

Then the first dog walkers appeared - so no more ravens.

However - there had not been any flocks of seagulls to disturb them, so I wonder if the gulls appear depending on the brightness of daylight. I also have not seen the bold pair. 

If the weather holds for tomorrow, I may try and find out if they have changed their territory. I have my suspicions ...

Feb 5th

It was not raining today, but it was cold. As I left at 7.45 a.m., to get to the ravens field at the same time as yesterday, there was a pale dawn - and a rather dense morning mist over Llandaff Fields. There was even a slight frost on the grass.

Although I had heard raven calls earlier, pre-dawn, there were none to be heard, nor any ravens to be seen, as I walked to the top of the big field.

Half-way there I was joined by Bas and Karen, Bas rushing about and rolling on the frosty grass, really enjoying himself. There were no other dogs about.

When we neared the spinney, one raven swooped to the big tree inside it, coming from the toddlers' playground. No calls.

Bas and Karen had to get back as we got half-way into the ravens field, and while we were saying good-bye, that single raven called from the next tree he had flown to. Getting impatient, perhaps?

So I went to the enclosure, threw the scraps, and the raven came into the enclosure. from his behaviour it was clear that this was one of my young pair. He was briefly joined by his companion - both keeping their distance, as seems now usual for them.

I went back to the big field, along the 'more food' way, and one of them followed - sort of. I noticed that when I stood to look at him, before throwing a scrap, he wiped his beak on the grass. He's been doing this before, and I am beginning to think that this is a displacement activity: he's not sure if he should stay for the food or fly off because he's scared.

He eventually came to the big field, but took off after collecting two scraps because the little blackheaded gulls were again cycling over, in a huge flock. The quarry pair had not turned up.

I went down the big field, towards home. The mist was still quite dense, but the sun had risen over the rooftops and was shining brightly. 

In the middle of the field, I noticed two ravens, each sitting on the top of the rugby goal posts, like sentinels. One came down when I stopped, and approached when I threw some scraps. He made himself look very slim, looking scared - but it was one of the quarry pair: I recognised him because he had this pale brown patch on his chest which I had noticed before. He flew off however even before Cookie came bounding up from the bottom of the big field.

So - ravens are around, but not my bold pair. I think both the flock of seagulls and the beginning of the breeding season might have altered their behaviour. It is now much lighter than four weeks ago, so the change here may also play a part. I'll try and get out earlier tomorrow, to see what happens.

Feb 4th

Well, the rain hasn't stopped, it went on all night and this morning. At least it felt a bit milder than yesterday. With the thick grey clouds there was of course no glimpse of a dawn sky - but it was noticeably lighter when I left the house a 7.45 a.m.

There were raven calls earlier, coming from Pontcanna Fields, but they were out-called by the songs of the robins and blackbirds.

Once I was in the big field, I had not heard a single raven call at all. Nor had I seen one single raven, never mind a pair. 

I made my way into the ravens field - no calls, and not one raven either! I walked all the way round the enclosure, throwing scraps - not one raven turned up. Walking back to the top of the big field and the enclosure there: still not one raven! And of course no raven calls.

Then I saw one pair of ravens in the middle of the big field - a place I'd not seen them before. I went up to them, slowly, but they took off. Then, I threw a couple of scraps - they only came back once I'd walked much further away, but didn't really look for these scraps.

First, Cally (nice black Lab), and then some more dogs turned up, one of the Bas - so that put a stop to any further raven encounters: the dogs were chasing each other all over the big field - it was lovely to watch.

Why were there no ravens today?

It can't have been because of dogs - I met the first one (Cally) towards the bottom end of the big field, none were in the ravens field. Cally had not been to the top of the big field ...

It can't have been flocks of seagulls - there were none.

It can't have been the time of day - this is when I usually come, plus/minus 15 minutes.

Was it the rain? But the ravens were there yesterday.

I am puzzled. 

Tomorrow, the prediction is for no rain. I'll get to the ravens field at exactly the same time as today, then we'll see what is going on ...