OBSERVATIONS NOW IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[98wk26]

Fri 26th June 1998:
Hey! Somebird is mindtweaking me back! I left another sandwich 
remnant -- in its box -- out for the Crows again yesterday. It 
remained there all day, untouched. Some small birds, sparrows & 
starlings etc ate some obvious, unwrapped food I also left, but did 
not touch the boxed sandwich. They either knew it was not worth the 
attempt, or did not even recognise it as food. This morning it was 
gone. I looked around, expecting to find as usual that the packaging 
had been opened and discarded nearby. I found some pieces of it: 
only some, and they were just small and torn bits of plastic. Now 
this is quite a tough one-piece vac-moulding. Can be opened easily 
enough where it is designed to be opened, or just bashed around 
until it flops open. This is what I have seen before. Never this 
mangled wreckage! Whatever creature did this, it was far more than 
required to simply eat the contents. Hmm, so what is this telling 
me? This sandwich was egg mayonnaise btw.

Anyway, I brought the plastic fragments in for further examination. 
I put another boxed sandwich remnant out midmorning. Corned Beef & 
Tomato. Lunchtime, I was fortunate to be passing an overlooking 
window, looked out to check.... A Crow was inspecting box, but then 
flew off without touching. I get the impression that it was merely 
confirming that this cache would keep for later, for more leisurely 
opening and playing with in silent time of out-of-hours office 
carparks.

4:30pm. I saw that the box had been moved from hut roof, dropped on 
ground. Only about ten feet away, and I surmise that a carry-off 
attempt was made, but the prize was too heavy and slippery to make a 
proper getaway. I replaced the box on hut roof. No obvious signs of 
attempted opening. I have other ideas for this sort of package, like 
stapling or taping the thing shut, but I want to get them used to 
the package first: I'm still expecting them to get the idea of it 
opening easily if you know the trick of it. But I have put a heavy 
piece of iron plate inside it now, to make it more obvious that it 
is not for carrying off. Heheh. Well, most people go home early on 
Friday afternoon, so it will be a good quiet evening to see what 
happens next.

Nothing did, though I was around 'til after dark. Cold and blustery 
all day.

============

Weds 24th June 1998:
Haven't actually seen any Corvids here this week, but someone is 
certainly taking the food. The vac-moulded sandwich packaging is 
always found next morning, looks like bill-battered open. No finesse 
yet, just hammer at them until the things burst open. From the 
dented and scored, scuffed appearance, I reckon only Crows or 
Magpies could have done the damage! And I found a black feather on 
the ground nearby today. 


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[98wk25]

Thurs 18th June 1998:
The two Crows are often about the far end of the carpark, early 
morning and evening. Not seen them in daytime when other people are 
in at the offices on that side. Still not sure what the major 
attraction is over there, but they often sit on the 6ft wooden fence 
that divides this estate from the private rear-garden of the Fur & 
Feathers tavern, which the publican uses as a vegetable plot. There 
is some newturned earth, but nothing wriggling that looks 
particularly appetising. Beyond that is a weedgrown and seldom-used 
public footpath. I've never seen a nest in the immediate vicinity, 
and really, apart from our oak, there are no trees tall enough be 
worthy of a true Crowsnest. I can imagine them regularly foraging 
the pub's beer-garden, just a little further up the same fence; the 
establishment does a reasonable lunchtime trade, and people often 
sit at outside tables with bar-snacks or plates of cooked food.

This evening I was here quite late, about 8pm, and one Crow was 
lurking on the fence every time I looked out. So I crept outside 
quietly, using our vans for cover, peered carefully round one, and 
gave a mighty caw. It was facing away from me at the time, but leapt 
around quick enough. I just kept still and watched, sure it could 
not see me. Heheh! It was so obviously puzzled, looking all around, 
scanning the sky, but mostly looking over in my direction. So I 
reckon they have fairly good directionality to their hearing, even 
for unexpected sounds directly behind.


Eventually it flew off in the opposite direction, quickly out of 
sight, so I crept round the back of the other office units, hoping 
to surprise. I did so, but this time, it was the pair, and they flew 
quick and silent from a small area of wasteland, and across the main 
road. One perched atop the rural wooden bus-stop shelter, staring 
back at me keenly, while the other disappeared into the tractor-gaps 
of the cropfield. Then the other followed, and I crossed the road: 
stood looking into that field for a good ten minutes. There could 
have been a hundred Crows hiding in that field, and I would not have 
seen one. They could have walked unseen across it, below crop-
height, to leave by cover of hedgerow wherever they chose.

A little later, I locked up and left for home. First making sure I 
had left food on the shed roof. Both Crows were sat on the fence, 
watching me as I drove away.

============

Tues 16th June 1998:
Haven't seen the Crows for a few days, though the food keeps 
disappearing. Have now taken to leaving it in wrappers, sandwich 
remnants in their original vac-moulded packaging, strong and 
resealable. Make them work a bit more for their supper, hehe. Also I 
am curious to see how they cope with the additional challenge. I 
expect Crows and Magpies will be able to open. The Jackdaws may give 
up, and the smaller birds probably won't even attempt. We shall see. 
I also want to know whether the food containers will be opened on 
the spot, or taken away complete for more leisurely puzzling. I have 
certainly seen Crows at motorway service areas taking similar 
containers from litter-bins, and opening with a casual twist of bill 
inserted into the opening edges. Neat, but Motorway-Crows are pretty 
smart, and know all about us Earthwalkers and our eating habits. I 
want so see if the Rural Crows already know this trick, or how long 
it takes them to work it out.

We had a bit of hail in the late afternoon, been cold and wet all 
day. Getting dark early from the almost complete cloudcover. A 
little sunlight broke through, and I went outside to admire a 
rainbow against a dark cloudscape. Unusual conditions, and very 
lovely. A solitary Crow flew fast and low from over the hedge, right 
over me, with the rainbow framing it as I stood enrapt and still. 
Called and dipped as it went over. So very beautiful.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[98wk24]

Thurs 11th June 1998:
Drove into office carpark this morn to see two Crows sat on a 
windowsill of the unit in the far corner. (Unit 6, about 70paces 
away.) Huh, I am slightly miffed: why not sit on my windowsill then?

Ughh! Ten days before the summer solstice, and I am shivering. Had 
hailstones yesterday, among the general wet, wind and cold. Our poor 
oaktree was looking scorched, wilted from this and the preceding few 
days of hot weather. Today I see shrivelled brown and yellow 
oakleaves scurrying across the carpark.


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[98wk21]

Fri 22nd May 1998:
Crows just love Cheese & (raw) Onion Rolls! That is my conclusion 
from circumstantial evidence of last two weeks. Oh, and no birds 
like the dried catfood; that has been pointedly ignored by all the 
species round here, even though I tried leaving some on top of a 
slice of bread.

11:40am. In act of putting half a cheese & onion bread-roll on the 
shed, and two Crows flew overhead. Held the food up towards them; 
one gave a double caw, but soft and muted, liquid-sounding noise. I 
took the note as "pleased surprise." Which one called, and whether 
to me or to mate, I could not tell.

Ten mins later, I look outside again. One Crow (only) flew from 
oaktree. 12:20 Stepped outside, immediately heard a single caw, a 
short, quick bark of a note that seemed to convey a sense of warning 
and slight urgency (rather than major alarm.) The sound seemed to 
come from behind me and high, on the roof perhaps, though I couldn't 
see anybird when I looked up. So I went swiftly round the back, just 
in time to see a corvid disappearing over the hedge with the bait. 
Black bill firmly holding the bread-roll at point of balance, and 
clamping the two halves together from the open, half-eaten edge. 
Question: does the bird know that this is the only sensible way to 
carry, i.e. without the thing falling into two, or most of the 
filling dropping out? I would dearly like to have seen this Crow 
with a whole roll!


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[98wk20]

Wed 13th May 1998:
(ngr671447.) The House Martin's partially-rebuilt nest has fallen 
down again.

============

Tue 12th May 1998:
(ngr671447.) Surprising what one can see from my office window, or 
from just wandering outside the building. A fine warm spring day, 
now that the sun has burned off the earlier morning mist. I put some 
wholemeal bread by the flowerbeds in the carpark. More with intent 
of giving it to the various little birds that nest around us. The 
parent birds are rushed of their wings to keep pace with the 
vociferous demands of their not-quite-fledged young. From my window, 
I see whole slices demolished within ten minutes: the two Starlings, 
whose nest overlooks, are taking it constantly for their nestlings, 
and gulping down a few hurried bites for themselves. The Sparrows 
dash out in between, tear off billfulls and retire to the safety of 
their favourite bush to eat. The House Martins are busy fiddling 
with their nest, though they seem to be making very little progress. 
Not that they would like bread I suppose, and I'd have to throw it 
up in the air before they would even look at it. (:>)

Wander round the quieter area behind the offices. Put more bread on 
the little meter-hut roof: a ready-made feeding table, tiled at 
shoulder-height. A Finch of some kind observes me closely, singing 
loud. Though my presence is forgiven when my gift is noticed, and it 
flits down to the table, almost close enough to touch. See two 
fledglings, reckon Thrush, all downy-balled rotund little things, 
skulking slightly nervous under the hedge. They probably had good 
reason to be cautious...

...Though I did not even realise they were there, still and silent 
in the oak above: a pair of Crows. I am walking away, glancing back 
from scant twenty paces when one swoops. The Finch shrieks in shrill 
complaint but is ignored. The Thrush fledglings are wisely quiet and 
out of sight. It is the bread that the Crow wants now. It has made 
that decision, and does not procrastinate about it now. Unlike the 
Finch, who has not yet even had a peck. The snatch is executed with 
great precision. No stopping; I don't think the bird even touched 
the tiles, as it bill-takes the half-slice I had placed. Up and 
away, without turning or slowing. 

Partner took wing and followed, at a lower elevation, and they 
assumed a stepped formation, heading Southeast over the lane and 
fields beyond. Then a wondrous manoeuvre -- whether by accident or 
design I could not say. The higher bird, leading, seemed to shake 
head slightly, perhaps with intent to re-balance the bill-load for 
distant flight. But the bread broke in half, and one part fell... to 
be casually bill-caught by the lower bird, who was in perfect 
position. Neither bird faltered or missed a wingbeat. They were 
flying about fifty wingspans apart. 

The whole incident was accomplished in silence. Not a caw nor rustle 
of branch or wing. Swiftly, but unhurried, with those easy wingbeats 
of Crows in confident possession of all the sky that they can see. 
This is no corvid's special territory, though we are on a flyway for 
quite a few local rookeries, and the odd Crow or two check us out 
occasionally. I expect this pair will be back again, as there 
doesn't seem to be much competition. There is Hawk (not yet 
identified) in the field the other side though; probably of no 
concern if they are only foraging here, but they decide to nest or 
roost in that oak, I expect they will force a confrontation of some 
kind.

This Crow pair seemed slightly smaller than average, sleek lithe 
darkness. I would guess they are last-season fledged, in which case 
they could be firstmates of this year. Probably not nestbuilding for 
this season though. Already working as a close team though. Oh, to 
be wingloose and fancy free!

As for the Finch, that pretty, but stupid and twittery little thing, 
still complaining to world in general about "daylight robbery", I 
felt sorry for it anyway, and gave it some more bread. 


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[98wk19]

Fri 8th May 1998:
Not had much opportunity for Corvid observations last few days, as 
taking a suddenly car-less colleague home in the wrong direction. 
Never mind, a change of route showed me several more rookeries for 
future reference. And yesterday morning, we saw a Kestrel. Well, I 
had time for a quick glance at a raptor of some kind as I drove, but 
colleague was sure of it. It was hovering just over a fencepost on a 
country lane through fields. Only ten feet away, as it sheared off 
fast as I passed. 

And this morning the House Martins are hard at daubing fresh mud on 
the remnants of last years nest. They arrived here on 27th April, 
sunny day, but I've not seen them again until now. I wonder where 
they hide out, waiting for the miserably cold blustery weather to 
give way to another warm day like today...

...So go out lunchtime. Feel like a good walk away from office and 
roadside areas, so visiting the Nancole Copse rookery at ngrSU684420 
which I have not been to for a few weeks. This is a more isolated 
rookery; though plainly visible from the A339, it is the other side 
of a strip of cultivated land. The only paths to it start much 
further away, but one can circle round to it. Not many people do 
though, 'cos it is a reasonable distance and not on the way to 
anywhere more interesting than the rookery. (:>) Suits me. So the 
birds here are probably less subject to disturbance by humans than 
any other rookery I know nearby. The downside of course, is that 
they are more readily spooked by humans. That is another reason I 
don't visit this one very often. Last time I was there, they spotted 
me very early, most flew away, and a few remained to give me the 
good scolding I thoroughly deserve.

But not this time. One or two birds ahead of me in a field on the 
way, took very little notice of me, then they flew off with a few 
desultory caws, but not towards the rookery. The wood was strangely 
quiet of corvids when I entered. Plenty of general birdsong, and two 
Rooks flew silently away from a perch some way before. Rooks can be 
very quiet on the rare occasions that they wish to be so. Not like 
the Wood Pigeons I disturbed several times: these always fly off 
with a distinctive whirr of panicky wings. The pair of Rooks I saw 
would have been unnoticed by most walkers. I was watching for the 
swift passage of dark wings though. Wonder if there were any more I 
missed. Don't think so: they usually make a caw or two once they are 
safely out of sight. I did hear one or two distant caws, but sounded 
much too far away to be anything to do with me.

Working my way towards the rookery trees proper, though an almost 
undisturbed carpet of bluebells and starry white wild garlic. 
(ransomes or somesuch?) A shimmering of blue-violet, almost glowing 
in the dark recesses of the wood heartlands. But the rookery silent 
and deserted, two birds only in nearby trees. They too departed 
without fuss or showing much concern about my presence in the wood.

So I take the opportunity to hang around right under the rookery, 
take some leisurely frames of nests and trees, flowers... anything 
apart from the mysteriously absent Rooks. Not even a peep from the 
nests. I am there for maybe half an hour, and not a single bird 
arrived to check that all was well at home. I'll have to see if they 
are around at dusk on way to my own home tonight.

(Did so, and another evening too: no visible sign of Rooks in those 
trees, or even flying around the area. Odd, because passed other 
rookeries within five minutes before and after, all were obviously 
occupied, very active.)

============

Tues 5th May 1998:
6:30pm. Full overcast, looks like rain waiting for me, but the 
evening light is surprisingly bright. Have studied latest 1:25000 
map, note other end of public footpath across White-Patches' field 
goes to church in Shalden. Drive to it: Church of Saints Peter and 
Paul, a lovely rural, flint-built little place. (ngrSU693417)  Sure 
enough, wander round the back of the graveyard, and there is a 
stile. I think it worth a try, see if I can approach the rookery 
from this side. Heading Southwest and walking mostly downhill, main 
field of interest on left. Farmyard paddocks on right, then a 
smaller field dropping down to Shalden Lane. Then approaching, again 
on right, the woodland I checked last week. Sure enough, see Rooks 
to-ing and fro-ing in the wood, though there are none in the field. 
I reckon they have spotted me, most fly away towards main rookery. 
One comes out my way, does a wide loop around me, fast and with his 
head turned towards me the whole time. No caws from this one, and it 
returns to the wood, taking a perch high in a tall tree some little 
way in from the edge. Even this is approached by a circuitous route; 
he flies in low from behind it, rising soundlessly from ground level 
to a half-hidden vantage. I only catch a few glimpses as he crosses 
one tree not yet showing much leaf.

Onward then. I know I am observed, so try to act nonchalant. I'm 
sure they can tell though. Path runs along edge of field, hard 
against woodland margin for 400m, before breaking directly across 
the corner of the field for a further 250m to the A339 main road. 
The main rookery tree is in sight as I round the corner of the wood. 
There are many rooks perched in the topmost twigs, above the nests 
which are barely visible among the unfolding hands of chestnut 
leaves. I must be plain to see against the dry-earth path and 
growing green crops behind me. As the path descends, the roost-
branches seem to rise out of the cluttered background of more trees 
and more fields in the dusk-hazing distance. Against thin white 
cloud they are illuminated by the soft, almost directionless light. 
I am just fractionally below their level, about 150m away, as flies 
the crow-photographer's image-forming rays. They appear to be taking 
no notice of me: most are facing away. I stop and raise lens; 
instantly they take off, with much noisy complaint-cawing. So I 
stand and watch them for a few minutes, then return the way I came.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[98wk18]

Thurs 30th April 1998:
About 9:30am: Saw a Carrion Crow on a streetlamp in Alton. Sat right 
on the end of one of those horizontal lamps, overhanging the 
traffic. Preening contentedly, ignoring cars and people passing 
underneath. There were trees around, but this perch gives a better 
view along the road. Crows have adapted to town life very well, and 
they are probably safer here than out in the fields; no-one is 
likely to be using firearms in a public place. So Corvidae and Homo 
generally just ignore each other in town. But I am slightly puzzled 
that this one is not being a bit more furtive: it is in plain view 
of a rookery at the edge of the town. Generally, the two species do 
not seem to overlap their home territories. I've never seen them in 
close encounter, but I always believed that Rooks will drive a Crow 
away from anywhere near their nestsites. Although a Crow averages a 
little larger and heavier, and with a much stronger bill, I wouldn't 
want to be the solitary Crow to annoy a rookery of maybe forty 
birds. I have seen Rooks mobbing and successfully driving off a much 
larger (unidentified) raptor.

Perhaps this Crow knows that Rooks are too nervous of town roads 
with concrete-slab pavements (sidewalks to the rest of the world?), 
preferring the open countryside their trees face, or at most the 
pathless verges of the country roads.

Had to rush out and about most of morning, chasing urgently required 
bits from contractors. Mostly local country roads, saw several 
solitary Carrion Crows feeding at various roadkills. They generally 
glance up at the approach of traffic, decide that they have time for 
one or two more bites before strolling casually out of the way. 

Heading back to base about 1pm, reckon I have time for a look around 
the white-patched Rook's area. Decide to drive around, see if I can 
spot any likely places for closer examination on foot later. Up the 
lane towards Shalden, but less than half a mile from the main road, 
I see many Rooks perched in another patch of woodland to my right. 
This could be the right place, and there is a pull-in too... so stop 
and wander into woodland. The birds fly off, but either head for the 
rookery by the main road (I can still hear the caws from that, 
though it is out of direct sight), or into the field that I am 
interested in. I spent a good half-hour in those woods, and found 
absolutely no corvid nests. Disturbed nervous Deer twice, and almost 
walked into Pheasant many times. The Deer are pretty sharp: I don't 
see them until they break cover and dash away. The Pheasants are so 
stupid though; I see them long before they notice my presence, and I 
reckon I could catch one bare-handed if I was quiet. There are many 
empty shotgun cartridges strewn around. All #6, (2.6mm shot), 
different brands. I guess this wood is a commercial shooting area. 
Probably a good reason for smart corvids not to nest here then. I 
haven't seen any "public footpath" signs, though neither are there 
any "private keep out" notices. I work my way quietly to the far 
edge of wood in several places, and most times see Rooks feeding in 
the field. I count at least seven in the air at one time, and there 
are more in trees further along the wood. I don't see White-Patches 
at all. I can't see quite to the area I was observing last night 
though; this is a big field on a convex hilltop. I'd need to get 
high in a tree to see over the curve of the land. Anyway, I have 
established -- negatively -- what I was looking for at this time. I 
find several trees with good views of the field, and the groundcover 
below white streaked. Bare trees, no chance of hidden nests. I 
reckon this wood is just a convenient temporary perching area, at 
least if there is no shooting-party in it at the time. Back to work 
then. Checking maps later, it is shown as Shalden Lane Plantation, 
centred on ngrSU687414. Mixed woodland, mainly deciduous, about 400m 
by 150m

6:30pm stopped briefly at the (XroadsA339) rookery on my way home. 
Very bad light, complete heavy cloud cover and getting dark early. 
Walked quickly past the rookeries, followed track to where I saw 
White-Patches this time yesterday. A few birds are having a last 
desultory feed in the early gloaming, though most are leaving... 
either directly back to the xroads rookery, or to the wood I 
inspected at lunchtime. No sign of white on any of these. Continue 
on, the track skirts the lower edge of this field, past some old 
railway workings, long decayed. Trees on right for most of the way, 
but no nests or even temporarily roosting corvids. Ends after half a 
mile, at junction with a freshly ploughed field. I can see across 
the old railway and main road cutting, and about twenty Rooks have 
gathered in a tall bare tree in woodland there, but no nests. I caw 
across to them, but am ignored. I'm not sure where this group are 
from or going to. One or two of them certainly flew over from this 
side though, as I saw them cross the road fairly high. Does this 
mean that there is another rookery on the other side of the main 
road somewhere? Do the field-feeders I saw comprise of individuals 
from widely-separated rookeries? The xroads group seem to forage 
mainly on the side of the field closest to their rookery, but I did 
see some going and returning to much further away.

Return to car, and carry on up Shalden Lane. See corvids gathering 
in Shalden Lane Plantation, but I'm sure they only use it as a 
meeting and staging post. Drive on, but no other obvious places that 
Rooks would be likely to nest, and surely getting beyond normal 
foraging range for that field now. Puzzling. 

============

Weds 29th April 1998:
No time today, and rushed homeward to collect my negs and enprints. 
Hurrah! Have a fairly reasonable photo of a bird, clearly showing 
white patches under wings. Unfortunately not enough detail to 
convincingly show it as a Rook, and I don't have any frames showing 
it in company with *definite* Rooks. But that is my long-range 
opinion. (:>) To be fair, they were all too far away to positively 
identify. I'm sure it doesn't live in the rookery I was observing, 
so I'll have to look closely around the area for its nestsite. If it 
is a Rook, I expect it won't be very far. Wish I'd stayed longer 
yesterday, to see which direction it departed in for the night. I 
also have a few good frames of Tatty Rook.

Tues 28th April 1998 6:30pm. (XroadsA339):
Rained most of the day, but sunny-bright evening. I go back to see 
how that tatty one is doing. I'm pleased to see it flying around as 
vigorously as before, and seems less nervous. The trees have put on 
a lot more leaf in six days. These are Chestnut trees; the young but 
dense foliage all but obscures the nests. I would find some of them 
hard to spot, had I not remembered fairly exactly where to look. I 
photograph the tatty ones nest as best I can, hoping that I already 
have one from the previous visit. (Now using up last of the same 
film.)

But if the denser greenery makes observation of the Rooks harder for 
me, it also gives me more cover. If I stand quietly out of the way, 
they return after a quick flyaway. I have to show myself to get some 
reasonable photos, and they take off again, but in a fairly casual 
fashion. They seem less paranoid today: perhaps they are getting 
used to me. There is a fair amount of cawing while I place the 
recorder right under their tree, but they only go a few trees away, 
and return as I leave. So I hope I got a few frames of tatty one 
this time, as they flew back across an open space. 

I think it best not to push my luck too much, and wander obviously 
up the main path. The cutting climbs up to field level, and on my 
left (opposite side to main road), is a big field, now also 
springing with green shoots. A few Rooks are ground-feeding here, 
but far enough away not to notice me, or at least not to be troubled 
if they have. 

I get a surprise. One bird flies about briefly, before settling on a 
better bit of field. As it banks, I see white on the undersides of 
both wings. I'm not sure if I am imagining this, seeing only the sun 
(behind me) glinting off shiny feathers. I look hard through 300mm, 
but it has wings folded while walking and pecking at the ground. 
Indistinguishable from the three others it seems to be with. That 
is, there is no white visible on it _anywhere_ when it is walking 
with wings neatly closed. Sure they are all Rooks, from general 
look, behaviour, though they are too far off to see much detail of 
bill or feet.

It takes off again, and spends quite some time in the air, wheeling, 
soaring, diving, just like its companions. And showing, quite 
distinctly, symmetrical white undersides to approximately the inner 
half of both wings! Its companions show nothing more than the 
occasional sunglint from body or one wing at a time. I am quite 
mystified. No, this is not a Magpie (pica-pica) with not enough 
white: the tail is too short, and besides, it doesn't flutter about 
as weakly as they do. This is a strong-flying bird, firm and 
graceful in the air, and spends some time airborne. I stand still 
and watch for a while, hoping it will come closer, but they all seem 
happy with the middle of the field. I get a few frames off, but 
really the range is going to be too great for much detail. The lens 
scale indicates I am focusing at well over 300ft, but I wouldn't 
expect much accuracy at that end. 

Oh, well, I finished the film, and put it in the letterbox of a 
quick miniprinter I use on the way home. I doubt that there will be 
any conclusive evidence on this to verify my sighting, and it is a 
1600asa film too, but I am anxious to see the negs now.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[98wk17]

Thurs 23rd April 1998:
Too busy, and dental appt afternoon, so rush off early... See a pair 
of Crows eating roadkill, Lasham/Golden Pot road. They casually 
saunter to the other side of white line at my approach, then back 
again as I pass.

============

Weds 22nd April 1998:
Lunchtime, sunny and warm. I visit another site. (xroadsA339). The 
trees are greening-up well now, and this will restrict photography 
somewhat, but I grab the camera with 300mm. I switch my little Sony 
dictaphone on, and take this with me too. I want to get some rough 
ideas of recording the birds, find out what I will really need to do 
it properly; I think I want a portable Minidisc and parabolic mic, 
but that will have to wait. Interesting to see what I can tell from 
a general low-fi recording though, and if I can later hear how the 
birds were reacting to my presence, so I am recording the whole 
time:

Caws to start with, but sound fairly general. Thud of car door, 
thunk of locks, my footsteps on leafmould and twigs... a few more 
caws. I wander around up the path, birds are coming and going. The 
more I loiter, the more go and fewer come. I suspect it is a 
gradually escalating alarm, based on my behaviour. I suspect they 
_should_ notice any human, but not be too worried to start with: 
this is a reasonably busy rural crossroads, and people are living in 
the cottage. Someone is parking in the drive, and later takes the 
trashcan out while I am wandering around. A tractor is running up 
and down the field too. I note that the dead Rook on a cleft stick 
is gone: at least I can't see any trace where I remember it being.

I wander further up the path. There are more nests in trees here, 
and it is a quieter place than the main tree by the road. These 
rooks get excited a bit quicker. I leave the path and sit on a pile 
of old logs between two of these subsidiary trees. I sit quietly for 
ten minutes, but the alarm seems to increase. I try to get a few 
piccies, but they are fast and don't spend long against open sky.

I watch one bird in particular: though it has its nest among the 
very topmost, it seems more agitated than those closer to me. I also 
note that it seems smaller than average, and appears to be alone; 
most (though not all) of the birds sitting on nests have a fairly 
obvious partner at roost within a few feet. This one takes off, and 
I note it seems to have some difficulty with flying, and is beating 
wings nineteen-to-the-dozen. It flies around at some distance, 
uttering quite a high pitched bleating sort of caw, quite unusual 
and distinctive. I get in glances on the few occasions that it is 
closer and against sky. It seems to have a lot of feathers missing 
from the tip and trailing edge of one wing, and nearly half the 
tailfeathers missing on the opposite side. It is in a sorry state 
indeed, and I'm not surprised flying is hard work. My heart goes out 
to this one, though it seems just as fast-flying as the others; 
whereas they glide leisurely quite often, and beat slowly, this one 
hardly ever stops. I try for a photo, but don't think any will have 
worked. 

I wonder how it became damaged, in such a localised way; the 
undamaged wing and other side of tail appear to be perfect. I don't 
know why, but I speculate on shotgun-pellets, and a lucky near-miss 
except to feathers. I've seen birds with one or two missing quills, 
and I guess some come out naturally, and maybe another bird pecks an 
odd one out. They do squabble at roost sometimes, though it seems to 
be limited to an indignant squawk and a single quick peck or kick at 
most. They are generally sociable to each other. Indeed, I see 
several larger, fit-looking birds seem to fly almost protectively 
nearby, and in turns. These ones are mostly silent, just trailing 
effortlessly behind, land and takeoff together, but always at a 
respectful distance. I would have to see this for longer to be sure 
though.

I think I should let them be in peace, and wander on, but leave the 
tape running where it is, to retrieve later. I drop down another 
short path to the main road cutting, and cross to look at trees on 
the other side. I am almost out of sight of those last nests. I give 
a few gentle caws and leave some dried catfood at the edge of the 
road. More nests in trees there, but further from the road, private 
land with no public footpath, and with a more commanding view of the 
natural approaches. I can't easily get right under, so just peer 
from at least a hundred and fifty paces away. These birds seem more 
self-assured anyway. A few caws and some general sky inspection, but 
they are more interested in each other than me. A few wheel over me 
on the roadside and caw casually, which I return in kind.

I take a few photos. After about fifteen minutes I return to collect 
the dictaphone and go back to workplace. A little bit of alarm as I 
briefly passed. I play the tape in the car cassette. Seems to have 
worked okay, good. I turn up the volume, open windows and sunroof, 
and practise my cawing. In such a state of loud bliss, I turn into 
the office carpark... to find three gaggles of visitors milling 
about me as I draw to a halt. (Fortunately only a solitary one for 
me, and an unsolicited salesman anyway.) Seems like everyone else 
has gone out to make the most of a sunny lunchbreak. "Ummh, can I 
help you?" [dub really LOUD caws from cassette] "Uh, be with you in 
a mo." [hastily ejecting cassette and scrabbling for camera bits, 
door key etc]

Interesting to note the tape shows the rookery quieting down, to a 
more muted, background sort of chitchat cawing after I left. The 
only other thing that seems to have got them excited in the time I 
was away, was a single-engined light plane that flew over quite low.

I'm playing back the cassette on my home deck as I type this up, two 
evenings later. Much clearer through decent speakers, though there 
is a bit of hiss. Among the general rookery chatter, I can 
distinctly recognise my own not-quite-right caws, and one Rook I 
remember that had a distinctively deep caw. And also those short and 
plaintively-mewling caws of that tattered one. May Skylady safeguard 
her in gentle skies.

============

Tues 21st April 1998:
Lunchtime. There are men working (building, by the sound?) on the 
edge of the airfield, maybe fifty yards behind that tree. I guess 
the rooks are going to be fairly agitated all day, so I won't add to 
that. Go for a good drive around, see if I can find some more 
rookeries, anything else Corvid-Shaped! Find some Magpies in a quiet 
area, stop and attempt to stalk, but they see me and fly off to the 
other side of a field. Drive on, see a magnificent solitary Crow on 
a branch overhanging the road. Regal and confident, it does not even 
look at me as I drive at moderate pace towards it. On mischievous 
impulse, I wind the window down and almost stop under the branch. 
The Crow is maybe ten feet away, and looks casually down at me. I 
give my most tremendous caw. It looks horrified, and takes off 
straight over me, making its own caw of querulous surprise. I don't 
see where it goes, and I drive on.

============

Monday 20th April 1998:
No time today.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[98wk16]

Fri 17apr98: 
10am. No change. 7pm, the food on the post is gone! Could be 
squirrels though?

============

Thurs 16apr98:
About 9am. The food in the dish has gone. Unlikely to be the rooks. 
Could be any nocturnal animal. 7pm, no change.

============

Weds 15apr98:
1:30pm, snowing hard. I have walked to the junction. I take some 
record shots, and place some food. Most of these birds caw and rise, 
to mill about but don't go very far. If I remain still and 
reasonably out of sight, they return quickly. Several cars pass 
fairly fast, and are totally ignored. Some birds ignore me 
altogether, some remain at their roosts and caw, but don't look too 
worried. Out of curiosity, I start cawing a bit myself. Several 
birds leave. Some remain, but are hopping and fluttering about the 
branches, looking at each other and apparently casting about for the 
source of this stranger's caw. I step out into the open and caw-caw 
mightily. Several more leave, retreating to another tree further 
away. I must have spoken a wrong word there! I notice that one of 
those remaining is peering at me from around the far side of a nest. 
I walk around to get a better view, still cawing: it looks a bit 
agitated, caws twice and flutters to the next branch, so it can 
still use the nest to peer around. I back off quietly, and it looks 
relieved. 

Most of this time, a hardcore of maybe six large birds have been 
flying around me in cautiously wide circles, high and cawing 
continuously. A bolder two of these occasionally fly straight 
overhead, but very fast and looking down at me. At least I think it 
is the same two, though I have been mostly watching the action in 
the tree. The light is very poor, but I try for some long-range 
flash-assisted shots of those flying over. That makes them scatter a 
bit further! 

Oh, well, enough for now: I am cold and wet, there is snow over my 
lens, and I have given myself a hoarse throat. I drive past later 
that evening. No food has been touched. The rooks are settling for 
the night, and I do not stop.

============

(above) Observations of Rookery opposite junction of The Avenue and 
Back Lane, Lasham near Alton, Hampshire UK. Grid SU678439





+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It is so difficult trying to outwit Wild Corvids by stealth! They 
seem almost supernaturally aware of any interest in them. They see 
my form, and perceive that this creature is looking _at_ them: not 
merely through or past, ignoring them as most of the relatively 
harmless bipeds do. I cannot blame them for coming to the most 
obvious conclusions. I feel uncomfortable, guilty even. Too much of 
my humanity remains then. 

So I've been trying a different approach. As soon as I am within 
hailing distance, I start cawing loudly. CAW! CAW! [beware, human 
approaching!] CAW! CAW! [unclean! Fly ye away from me!] I hope by 
this means, that they will realise that though I have an interest, I 
am mostly harmless, and to distinguish from this behaviour that I am 
not the same as those similar-looking creatures that attempt to 
approach by stealth; those that also bear long things of black 
metal, but kill and maim with them.

What they make of me, I dread to think..."Caw! Look at this walker-
freak! A few twigs short of a windproof nest, this one; mayhap his 
mother let an egg get a bit chilled like, or sat too hard upon his 
head in't nest! Look, he can't even caw prop'r-'ampshire like! Best 
be careful though gang, could be just another earthwalker's trick. 
Keep the young'uns be'ind trees. Brave and strongflight ones amongst 
us to harry, and tempt into wasting cartridges on difficult shots. 
Somebird go and flush some stupid pheasants and rabbits to see what 
happens; that always distracts the gun-heads. Caw-hrak?

I think they also call, "CAW to heaven, that Skylady bear witness to 
that which we may suffer, and bring comfort to our dying." I feel 
bad about disturbing, frightening, them too. Making them waste their 
valuable energy-resources for the sake of my curiosity. So I am now 
in the habit of leaving them some food, as partial recompense for 
this. I'm trying dried catfood, as I think this will probably match 
their existing diet reasonably well, and I have already witnessed 
those omnivorous mammals, the hedgehogs, stealing enthusiastically 
from my cats. (Who don't really care enough to argue over dried 
food.) So I left a small handful in a foil pie-tray, on the ground 
within sight of the tree: hope the shinyness will be noticed, and 
cause them to investigate. And another quantity on the flat top of a 
wooden post, part of a roadsign. For these preliminary experiments, 
I have chosen a rookery beside a junction on a fairly busy country 
road: the rooks must be well-used to foot and vehicle traffic 
passing, slow/fast/stopping/starting, so my extra disruption is a 
relatively minor thing. And it is five minutes from my dayjob 
office, so I can drive past regularly, even when I don't have time 
for stopping and walking about. I can see the caches if I just give-
way properly at the junction. Most times there is no traffic behind 
me, so I can stop and peer at leisure through glass; they seem to 
ignore this. And there is a convenient pull-in space around a bend, 
out of sight for if I want to approach on foot. Though this seems to 
cause alarm in the rookery, especially if I hesitate or loiter. I 
suspect that there is no point in half-measures though; if I want 
covert observations, I will have to use a hide and make lengthy 
preparations. For now, let me see what I can do within my limited 
time and resources.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

National Grid References:
Around Lasham, Herriard etc, near Alton, Hampshire UK.
2.5" map is Ordnance Survey "Explorer" series, sheet 144.

Rookeries:
SU678439 Junction of The Avenue and Back Lane, northern edge of 
Lasham Airfield.
SU684420 Nancole Copse.
SU68454115 Xroads A339/Shalden Lane (Bentworth to Shalden 
unclassified road) This is what I call the "Main Rookery"
SU68484110 What I call the "Overflow Rookery" for above, on opposite 
side of A339
SU712385 Butts Bridge, and Butts Green. Southern edge of Alton.

Observations from dayjob office:
SU671447 Diplomat Communications Ltd. With the radio mast.
SU672447 Field to East: overlooked by my office window. (part of 
Hyde Farm?),
SU670447 Field to West: over A339, towards Bagmore Lane. Behind 
these offices. 
SU670449 Field to Northwest: separated from above by footpath and 
hedgerow.

============
Other areas: 

Selborne:
2.5" map is Ordnance Survey "Explorer" series, sheet 133.

SU73953380 Selborne village, B3006/School Lane. Within sight of 
Gilbert White's house, now museum. Rookery trees overhang busy road: 
a through route between Petersfield and Alton. Popular with lorries 
and commuter traffic, much to chagrin of villagers, and despite 
almost continous radar traps and recent addition of dangerous 
additional chicanes. (1997)

SU?????? Many other Rookeries in Selborne.

SU?????? A3 Lay-by rookery. Strip of trees and scrub on steep bank. 
Land remaining between old and new road-cutting for the A3 London to 
Portsmouth trunk route. The newer road is in cutting at lower level 
on the southern flanks of Butser Hill. There is a parking pull-in on 
the north-bound half of the dual-carriageway. Behind and above this 
are tall trees, with the older, single-carriageway road back further 
and higher. Artificially steep between, as a mechanically-cut 
landform feature in chalk.

phases 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

General Notes (and reminders to myself, hehe)


To be included--- when I have time!
Full site-descriptions, National Grid references, with (linked) 
record-shot photos of sites, and creatures observed. Maybe sketch 
maps of the site details. map-drawings? gif?

===========================================================

Some earlier notes still to copy.

D:\PERSONAL\ROOK98Q2.DOC   22/01/99 22:10