Saturday, May 04, 2013
A cold and quiet spring
A strong west wind took some of the pleasure out of walking at Combe today. When we arrived at the car park I spotted a ring ouzel on the slope south of the gibbet; but we set off in the opposite direction, and it was only after completing the round that I took some photos. By that time I was looking into the sun and the bird was more distant.
A raven was making its way up the slope with occasional hoarse calls, and for a moment it was in the frame with the ouzel.
A carrion crow landed near the raven while a second individual began a sustained and aggressive aerial attack, going high, diving down at the raven all beak and claws, and swooping away to begin again. I don't know why the raven didn't just fly off. Maybe it was injured, or perhaps it was a juvenile on its own. The mobbing was still going on when I left.
The ring ouzel was quite close to this little group. It seemed mesmerised but was probably just listening for worms. A wheatear was on the same slope; and other birds seen on the walk were a marsh tit, two singing chiffchaffs, two or three whitethroats, and a handful of house martins and swallows.
// posted by Christine @ 12:51 PM 
