Feb 20th

Again a frosty morning, dry but sunny. There were the early morning raven calls to be heard from Pontcanna Fields, but today, having left the house around 7.30 a.m., I could hear them as soon as I got into Llandaff Fields as well. They were coming from the boundaries.

I got into the big field, and in the middle, quite a bit away from the top, I stood still and turned around to look at the fabulous sun rise: the glowing, orange-golden sun just rising above the rooftops, what a sight! 

As I turned back, the quarry pair was just swooshing in, landing a good six yards away. 

I walked a bit further, to the top - and from the ravens field the young pair arrived. 

I stood to get the scraps out of my pocket - and from over the toddlers' playground my bold pair came swooshing in!

Feeding them the usual way elicited the usual responses - but this time they all were a bit wary, even the bold pair. The reason was that one black-headed gull kept circling overhead, quite low - and even tried  to get one of the scraps from the ground. 

The bold raven moved towards that scrap and the seagull flew off, scrap-less.

There were only a very few dogs around, so the ravens all got their food without interruptions. There were no kerfuffles, neither between the pairs nor amongst themselves. They all looked as if they kept themselves to one patch - distant from the patches of the other two pairs, and trying not to encroach.

 

Walking back, pockets empty, it occurred to me that the ravens can see me very well now that sunrise is so much earlier, and that they must be on the look-out for me. 

Also, I think they regard my standing still as a sign that the food distribution is imminent.

I shall try that again tomorrow, as the weather is predicted to stay the same, and see if my assumptions are correct.

Feb 19th

What a change in the weather! We had snow yesterday, which did not stay on the ground, but the temperature dropped, and dropped further overnight. So this morning there was frost on the ground, the mud was frozen, and we had glorious sunshine to make up for the icy temperatures.

I left the house at 7.45 a.m., having heard some early, distant raven calls coming from Pontcanna Fields. There were no calls at first when I got into Llandaff Fields, and no ravens, but lots of dogs enjoying the bright morning.

The first calls came from the direction of the tennis courts, just as I got to the top of the big field.

Two ravens swooped towards me - my bold pair. As I fed them, some soft croaking came from behind my back: the quarry pair had arrived, keeping well away from the bold pair and from me - but happy to pick up the scraps I threw them. As I turned back to my bold pair, the young pair flew to the ground as well, joining the other four.

There was a brief scuffle between the young pair and the companion of the bold raven, then all settled to pick the scraps and feeding.

And then - Bas turned up. it is such a joy to see that big dog come rushing up to me. 

The ravens were not so enthusiastic about Bas - the quarry pair took off immediately, while the other four moved away a bit, still on the ground. 

I kept feeding them because Bas had rushed off to greet other dogs - but as he came back he chased the four ravens. 

The young pair then also took off, not coming back, but the bold pair just flapped a few yards away. So they got some more scraps, Bas having chased the young pair into the ravens field. 

Finally, they'd had enough to eat and since that big black house wolf came back from the spinney, they flew off over the tennis courts.

That was the end of the feeding for today, and Bas, Karen and I walked back down the big field.

Having all six ravens coming together again, I think there are two reasons for this: 

one, the frost means they can't get at their food caches and are thus happy to eat as much as they can. 

Two, the bright sunlight means that they all can see me coming, thus don't have to hang about in the gloom, waiting for one or the other raven to call.

It looks as if we'll have the same weather conditions tomorrow, so I can test my assumptions.

Feb 18th

It was just as dismal today as yesterday, with some fog thrown in for extra effect.

This morning, there were raven calls coming from Pontcanna Fields, and I heard some more, faintly, as I got into Llandaff Fields around 7.40 a.m. 

The quarry pair cawed and flew in, to sit on the fence posts of the enclosure in the top part of the big field as soon as I approached. As I threw them their scraps, loud cawing came from the sycamore next to the spinney: one raven had observed what I was doing and it sounded as if he protested at being left out. 

He came to the ground, his companion following - it was my bold raven! He walked up to me, got his scraps, pushed his companion off the scrap I threw to her, flew off to hide his loot, and came back again.

Meanwhile, the quarry pair had retreated back to where they came from. They don't seem to like mixing with the bold pair in the absence of the young pair.

Then Bas came hurtling up to me, and generally rushing about. The bold raven kept a wary eye on him but did not abandon his scraps. In the drizzle I saw that he had erected the feathers on his neck and shoulders - slightly, but well visible when he walked away from me. 

As his companion was not so keen on being in the vicinity of a big black Bas, she and the bold raven flew off, leaving me, Bas and Karen to walk back in the rain, on the muddy playing fields.

More rain tomorrow ... or sleet ...

Feb 17th

A dismal day - rain, and cold with it! No sun, and it felt dank and horrible when I left the house at 7.50 a.m.

There had been no raven calls earlier, and there were none when I got into Llandaff Fields.

I saw one raven in the distance, poking the ground in the middle of the big field - no idea who that was, he was too far away.

I kept looking into the tree tops to see if any raven was sitting there, watching for me - not one to be seen.

Finally, right under the big sycamore at the ravens field, there came a soft quorking sound: it was one of my young pair, and he looked utterly miserable in the rain!

He came down into the muddy field, then his companion appeared, but while they both took the scraps, they were skittish, waiting until I had turned away from them - and flew off as soon as I turned to walk back into the big field. They did not follow me there, nor did any other raven appear. 

I blame the rain - hardly any dog walkers were out, nor any school children who might have put the ravens off.

I hope it will indeed clear up a bit tomorrow ...

Feb. 16th

It was raining, easing to drizzle, then strengthening to rain again as I left at the usual time of 7.30 a.m. 

No raven calls earlier in the morning, but lots of robins singing. The sun was hidden behind the rain clouds.

No ravens until I came to the ravens field - and the young pair were the only ones who turned up. They picked the scraps in a desultory fashion, flying off quickly, probably because there were even more dogs around today. Well, it is half term, so people's time tables in regard to walking their dogs change.

So I went back home with a pocket full of scraps left. 

I'll have to think about when to go and feed the ravens - even earlier, or quite a bit later.

We'll see.