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 ...

Feb 3rd

Alas, the weather wasn't better ... The wind was less, but it rained and felt cold an uncomfortable. I left the house at 7.30 a.m., to a dark sky with no hint of dawn. 

There were no raven calls, nor any ravens. Only when I got to the ravens field did one appear - coming from the clump of Horse Chestnuts again. One of the young pair, its companion again flying straight to the enclosure.

I walked round, throwing scraps for them - they always keep well away. 

Back in the big field, the 'more food' way, they got scared off by Duffy, a young and bouncy whippet, who was dead keen on getting some of the scraps from my pocket.

That was too much for any of the ravens - the quarry pair didn't even put in an appearance.

But there was sufficient food for all ravens on the pavements: today, the rubbish gets collected, so the urban fox, who lives somewhere in Llandaff Fields, had ripped open all the food-refuse bags, contents spread all over the place. Good pickings for ravens.

Hopefully, the rain will have stopped by tomorrow ...

Feb 2nd

Picking up from where I left off, I went out today, at 7.25 a.m., to see what the ravens were up to. 

The weather was terrible - not cold as such, but raining and blowing a penetrating gale from the West. So - no dawn to speak of.

Unsurprisingly, there were no ravens to be seen when I got to the big field, although I did hear some calls from the boundary to Pontcanna Fields.

The first raven I saw came from the clump of Horse Chestnuts at the corner of the avenue and the ravens field, flying to the sycamore next to the spinney. He came to the ground - one of my young pair, looking a bit bedraggled. His companion had flown to the enclosure. I fed him on the ground, and then both in the enclosure.

While we were thus engaged, they suddenly both stopped eating, cawed loudly and assumed this juvenile begging position. 

The reason was that first one raven came flying across, circling back, and then a second appeared, both then flying off to the allotments. I wonder if that was my bold pair.

I went back to the big field, the 'more food' way. One raven followed me, as always first flying into the sycamore, then to the ground. As soon as we were both right on the field, the quarry pair turned up, skittish as always. 

Both pairs suddenly took off. What might have scared them were two rather large flocks of little black-headed gulls, who first circled over us, then settled further down on the big field - literally spread across the whole field, from one footpath to the avenue.

And then Archie turned up, jumping up to greet me. He's a black, young and bouncy lurcher. So his owner, a nice young lady, and I went back out of the park, chatting about Madame.

Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow.

Feb 1st

No ravens - not just me not being up to scratch yet - I also had a problem with the electricity in the house.
Getting an electrician and waiting for him put paid to any plans I had.
Sorry.

Sunday, Jan 31st

I've stayed inddors today, not being well.
Sorry, ravens.
Better day tomorrow ...