March 15th/16th

For the next few days I won't be able to write about the ravens, due to some previous committments.

I'll be back writing here a.s.a.p., that is, in a few days, so don't worry!

Sunday, March 14th

It was again a cold, dry morning, with frost on the grass. There was another gentle sunrise, and the robins and blackbirds had sung their hearts out for an hour already. The great tits take over once the sun is up. 

There had been no raven calls, though.

I left the house at 6.45 and found Llandaff Fields empty of dogs and their walkers, until I got right to the middle of the big field. Then Otis turned up, full of bounce, very playful.

Up until then, there had not been one raven, either heard or seen. 

When Otis and his owner had walked off, I started to throw scraps into the enclosure - it was very odd, not having one raven around. There were no seagulls circling overhead, nor any other birds. The sky was as clear as can be - not even a cloud to be seen.

March 13th

Another icy night, another cold start to the morning. The clear skies which gave us this cold weather started to collect clouds around dawn. The songbirds were singing nevertheless, and there were some raven calls at this early time.

I left the house at 6.45 a.m., the sunrise was again a bit subdued because of the clouds, and the wind from the NW was a bit icy! There were no raven calls when I got to Llandaff Fields - but there was Alison coming back with Jack-the-Westie. So we had a long chat - still no ravens. Then, into the big field ten minutes later, Bas was on his way home. So we had a chat as well - still no ravens!

When I finally got to the top of the big field, I saw one lone raven sit in a treetop at the toddlers' playground. He didn't call. As I observed him, and tried to see if the other ravens might be in the spinney, I heard a swoosh: the quarry pair had flown in, and were sitting on the fence posts of the enclosure. 

March 12th

This morning was cold again - more because of the icy wind from the North West than because of the temperature. It also was damp, with the sunrise hidden behind patches of thick grey clouds.

The robins and blackbirds had been singing for an hour before dawn, with the great tits chiming in at sunrise.

There were no raven calls at that time.

I left the house at 6.45 a.m., and heard raven calls coming from behind my back. Then I saw two ravens fly high overhead, overtaking me and flying towards Pontcanna Fields.

No ravens called while I walked up the big field to the top and the enclosure there.

The black-headed seagulls were on the ground in a big flock - but they seemed to be dozing and didn't fly up until Otty came bouncing up and chasing them. He's a chocolate Labradoodle, young and exuberant, and the seagulls flew off when he came along, circling overhead and then flying to settle in the quarry field.

Not one raven appeared when I stood at the enclosure, nor did they come when I threw some scraps into it.

March 11th

Today I left the house at 6.45 a.m.  ...! That's a bit better, but needs more work still.

After a clear night it was again a cold morning, with ground frost but no wind. The sunrise was soft and undramatic - it is lovely to see the same rose-grey both in the East and the West. 

The songbirds had been singing for a good hour ebfore I left the house, and there had been one soft, sleepy raven call as well.

Getting into the big field I saw one raven on the ground, pecking at some food bag. I didn't recognise that raven, and he took no notice of me. 

I saw no other raven, and there were no calls until I reached the top of the big field. Then, the quarry pair called. They had meanwhile swooped onto the top of the rugby goal posts and were watching. On their call, the bold pair answered from the ravens field, then another call came from the toddlers' playground.