New Year's Eve

It was not as dark and grim when we left the house today, around 7.40 a.m., as it was for the last two mornings. There was a hint of sunrise, but alas, the North East wind was atrocious. While it wasn't raining it was still feeling damp.

We had heard only the faintest of raven calls earlier, and when we got into Llandaff Fields the faint calls we heard again seemed to come from the allotments, quite far away. We didn't see any ravens until we came into the ravens field proper.

There, two ravens came flying to the ground towards us. They came from the allotments on the far side. It was my young pair, as always more adventurous and coming closer when in the open field, as opposed to being in the enclosure. They do know about this enclosure, though - they anticipate us, flying there as soon as we turn towards it. Why they prefer to keep much further away from us in there, I do not know!

Once we had fed them, and turned towards the open field again at the spinney, they flew off to hide their food.

Then, with a big swoosh of wings, my bold pair arrived, also coming from the far allotments. Even in the semi-darkness, where their physical features are a bit difficult to make out, their behaviour is so distinct, it is quite clear who is who!

As usual now, the bold raven scoffed as many scraps as he could, before flying off to hide them, thus giving his companion a chance to feed. Once back, he again pushed her off to get what he wanted.

And they both followed us closely into the big field, flying low - no sitting on tree branches for them!

Another behavioural difference between the bold and my young pair: the young raven who is less shy in approaching us, is not, however, the one who competes for the scraps: he waits until his shyer companion picks them up before he starts eating.

Once my bold pair had picked up some more scraps in the big field, both young pairs appeared as well - one pair coming from the ravens field, the other from the quarry side. There were no squawks today, no fighting, all got their scraps - and then some seagulls came circling over our heads. They were pretty large, so I think these were the lesser black-backed gulls.

On that, the ravens dispersed, and we went back home.

There will be clear skies and temperatures well below freezing in the coming night, so I better bring a lot more food tomorrow morning, as the ravens won't be able to get at their food caches.

From Madame and me, a very Happy New Year to all of you who enjoy reading this Ravens' diary!






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Dec 30th

That snow yesterday - well, it snowed for half an hour, and then it was back to rain, so no white fluffy stuff on the ground this morning. Instead, it was just as yesterday: dark, wet, street lights still on past the official time for sunrise, but far less wind, so it didn't feel as cold.

We hadn't heard a single raven call earlier in the morning, and there were none when we first got into Llandaff Fields, having left home at 7.40 a.m. Walking to the top of the big field, we started hearing them in the far distance, from the allotments and beyond.

But one pair did keep a look-out - and came swooping into the trees at the footpath, then following us into the ravens field. It was my bold pair.

I noticed again that they are wary of Madame to start with, especially as she is off her lead but sits next to me. Then, once they see she is not going to attack them, they come much closer.

They got all the scraps - on the way to the enclosure, in the enclosure and on the way back. 

The bold raven again came swooping to face us, repeatedly, on the ground, after he had hidden his food in some holes further away. 

The young pair don't do that - they go to ground behind our backs. 

So he and his companion got the lot - some went into Madame! - and we left on the 'no-more-food' walk. Neither raven followed us - they have learnt this, and remember it very well!

I also noticed that the bold raven now flies to the allotment boundary to hide his food. He seems to have cottoned on to the fact that if he hides the food in holes in the open ground it will get scoffed by dogs, and will of course be noticed by other ravens, who will then come and pinch it! 

Also worth noting is that he lets his companion feed on what I throw while he is off, making holes to hide the food - and she is now waiting for him to go away. 

Today, only once did he push her away from the scrap I had just thrown.

Finally, I have the impression that they are following us from afar, on our way back home. I have seen him a few times in the big road with the shops - so he seems to know his way around the area. 

Once the days get longer, and they start breeding, perhaps I could entice him to our back garden ... 

Dec 29th

We've had no snow as yet, but did we get rain!! 

Its been raining all day, and as we left the house around 7.40 a.m. it was not just raining, the wind came from the North Eest and was biting.

Also, it was so dark, the street lights were on even past the official hour of sunrise, at 8.20 a.m., when we came back.

We had not heard one raven call early in the morning - nor did we hear any once we were in the park. The ravens only turned up when we were in the ravens field - these were my young pair, whom I now recognise by their behaviour. 

Madame was off her lead, but she was happy to sit next to me, waiting for her reward as the ravens get their scraps.

Interestingly, while she sits, she keeps her head down as if to signal that she is not really looking at where the scraps fall - but she does know precisely where they are!

Also of interest - the ravens approach closer when Madame has her back turned to them, rather than the both of us. One of the young pair now hops as close as a yard.

We left the 'more-food' way, but the ravens took their time to follow us - and they did not call once we all were at the top of the big field. So none of the others came. 

I wonder if this was due to the darkness rather than just the rain.

Ah - its snowing now, just as I type! It looks very wet. 

Will it stay on the ground and bring us another big freeze?

We'll have to wait and see ...

Dec 28th

It did freeze overnight, as predicted - but since the ground, roads and pavements had been dry, there was no ice. It was cold, though, and there was frost on the grass. No wind, and the sunrise seemed to take forever!

We heard raven calls early in the morning, about an hour before the sun was up, but very faint and far away.

We left the house at 7.45 a.m. - it was still dark, but the street lights were switching off as we walked down the road.

Then, in Llandaff Fields, there were more calls, seemingly coming from the boundaries (Pontcanna Fields, side of the old quarries, top of the Horse Chestnut Avenue). 

It sounded as if they were calling to each other: one finished, then the next call came from another direction.

As we got to the top of the big field, my young pair came flying down. Once they had some scraps, the other young pair came from the quarry side. Then another pair turned up - but not my bold raven.

Suddenly - an intruder! 

This raven came from the far end of Llandaff Fields, and got squawked at, with some flapping of wings - but he stayed. So now there were seven ravens!

At one point in time they formed a semi-circle round me - unbelievable.

Not one of them was my bold raven - so I have no idea who the intruder was. 

I do remember that about seven years ago or so we saw ravens nesting in the tall tower of Llandaff Cathedral. As they can become 15 years old, might this have been one of the tower ravens, being hungry and following the calls?

I believe the bold raven and his companion were well provided for by all the people who had been out yesterday, enjoying the sunshine, and leaving lots of food remains in the waste paper baskets in Pontcanna Fields.

Rain and lots of snow predicted overnight and tomorrow - we'll have to see what the conditions will be like in the morning.

One thing is certain: the ravens are always good for another surprise!

Sunday, Dec 27th

There was heavy rain during the night - it woke us up, it was that heavy. That got rid of the ice all right - back to mud, then, with a very few small patches of ice remaining on the grass.

The ravens started calling about an hour before official sunrise, which is shortly after 8 a.m. here. with the days getting longer, I'll check if this holds true.

When we left the house around 7.40 a.m., there were huge dark clouds in the West, and the dawn was very overcast and dark. There was also a very stiff breeze from the West, which was cold and penetrating.

Once we got to the bottom of the big field we could hear ravens call from the boundaries of Llandaff Fields, from each side. We didn't see any, however. Making our way up, and being the only dog walker around, I kept looking, but it was too dark to make out any ravens in the trees.

Right on cue, though, as we came to the top of the big field, the bold one came swooping to the ground, and then his companion. After they had picked up a few scraps, both fluffed themselves up and croaked at me. 

Then the young pair arrived, again from the Horse Chestnut Avenue, but this time they were allowed to take some of the scraps without being attacked. I assume that they can now access their food caches, as the ground has unfrozen, so the hunger is not quite as bad, and the competition not as fierce.

I am constantly amazed to note how close the bold raven is willing to come to us, Madame sitting at my side. When we walked away towards another raven, he followed so close behind, hopping - he was about two paces away, within a yard. 

He also does not wait until we turn our backs before he picks a scrap - he just goes for it.

Another thing I noticed today: he is the only one of the three pairs I've now met repeatedly, who fluffs up the feathers on his head, to make himself look bigger. All the others not only do not do this - they try and make themselves look slimmer.

That means he is the dominant raven in this group.

On the way back, a flock of black-headed sea gulls had settled on the far side of the big field. That is a place where I've noticed ravens make holes in the ground, to hide food. 

Its too far away to note which raven it is - but today, I saw one raven actually swoop towards and low over the flock of gulls - it looked like an attack to me. The sea gulls immediately took of and flew away, being chased for a short stretch by that single raven, who then went back to the part of the field he'd cleared.

I've never seen that before!

I hope the wind will dry the roads and pavements by evening - we're in for another night of frost, with freezing fog tomorrow ...