OBSERVATIONS NOW IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk53] Fri 1st Jan 1999: Been at a New Year's Eve dancing party under London Bridge all night. Driving back on A3 about 9am, hardly another soul on the roads! But saw many corvids flitting about from roadkill. Magpies and Crows. Probably wondering why many people aren't around, making rush-hour traffic jams. No complaint of course, just making the most of it while still quiet. ============ Thu 31st Dec 1998: Been on holiday all week, but staying indoors with a bad headcold. Went out to an out-of-town shopping-place, large carpark with token- gesture hedges and a few isolated, spartan trees to relieve the emptyness of the paving. Not that I mean this as complaining; better to have some greenery than none at all, and we all have to get our shopping somewhere. And the Magpies seem to take advantage of the area. Saw several on the modern warehouse-type shop roofs, blending in quite well against the bright gleam of square-corrugated aluminium sheeting. Enticed a few down with bits of junkfood bought from a van in the carpark. Too wily to come close, but the birds were obviously quite aware of the fast-food van, and the likelyhood that people drop bits by accident. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk52] Mon 21st Dec 1998: A hard frost this morn. First real one of the season. Saw only the odd one or two Rooks in roadside fields on my way in. I got the impression they were inspecting the hardfrozen ground without expecting to find much to eat yet. In view of other recently seen behaviour, I wonder if they are scouts, and will report back if and when the ground is better. Sure enough, I see many Rooks perched at the xroads rookery and in Nancole Copse. These birds are just being quiet, feathers fluffed against the cold. Perhaps they are just waiting for news of a worthwhile feeding area before wasting any energy flying around. See a few other corvids around though. A few Magpies flying, and a Carrion Crow flies up with what looks like an apple core from the road at Stairs Hill. Another is at some roadkill past Alton, and a pair of Magpies further on. Later the ground is looking thawed. From office window see a pair of Carrion Crows in the field. They are there at odd times for most of the day. 4:00 - 4:10pm. The Rooks flying over as usual in silence, with a few Jackdaws tagging along and calling. 4:15 the pair of Crows left the field opposite, but flew in the opposite direction, roughly grid- North. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk51] Fri 18th Dec 1998: 9:30am. Calm morning, mostly overcast but with a pale sun glimmering through, and the occasional clear patch to shine through and make the mist rise and the damp fields to steam. And on the Selborne road, about fifty Rooks sat on the remaining large branches of a dead and leafless tree. Just perched quietly, not moving or looking around. Seemed to have their body feathers fluffed up, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Not many opportunities for that at this time of year. ============ Thu 17th Dec 1998: Raining and low clouds most of the day. Getting dark early. Saw only one pair of corvids flying over in the dusk. Wondering where the rest are today. ============ Wed 16th Dec 1998: 4:00 - 4:15pm. A beautiful day, clear and sunny. Dusk falling late but very suddenly. A purpling of the horizon, and the few small clouds drifting into golds and pinks. Corvids flying over in usual and expected direction... but what is this? Not the usual Rooks, but there are about 150 Jackdaws! Don't think I've ever seen so many in one flock. Ahh, and perhaps half a dozen Rooks are tagging along with them. A strange reversal! A few minutes later the main body of Rooks fly over, with just a few Jackdaws accompanying. I reckon a total of 350-400 corvids passed over in this time. Be fun to find out where they are going, assuming all roosting in one place. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk50] Mon 7th Dec 1998: A cold but dry day, low cloud in afternoon. 3:50pm to 4:15pm. Rooks going over in much the usual pattern. Single birds, pairs, and groups, all travelling roughly southerly. Some flying right overhead. I'm seeing patterns within the groups; it seems that there are sub-groups or clans within the larger flights. For example, about a dozen birds out of a fifty-strong group will keep bunched up, and if one bird lags behind, all of that dozen will also drop back to accompany that bird. Closest relatives perhaps? I also note that within groups of any size, many birds are flying in obvious pairs quite closely: two to five wingspans apart, with usually double that distance to another pair. And that some pairs have between one and four birds (often slightly smaller creatures), tagging along at a short distance behind. I assume that these are youngsters of this year, still learning much of Rook life, though physically independent. Whatever, but these ones tend to gambol about a bit more, mix around the group, though frequently flapping back into a rough formation behind what I assume are their own parents. When I see a single pair flying over, on their own or less often with youngsters in tow, they tend to fly at a greater distance apart. Perhaps 20-50 wingspans between, usually in line abreast. And some groups, especially the larger ones, have a retinue of Jackdaws following along behind. Although these are slightly smaller corvids, they are fairly easy to distinguish from the young Rooks, even in the poor light. They tend to fly in pairs within their own groups trailing the Rook groups at a slight distance, though the 'daws seem to mix around more. But they call to each other incessantly, so perhaps they rely more on sound than vision for pair-communication. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk49] Wed 2nd Dec 1998: 9am. A3 lay-by Rooks soaring over road cutting: I think they are using the artificial updrafts from the steep banks. 9:30am. About fifty birds perched on the bare tops of Nancole Copse. Only a brief glimpse at too great a range to be sure, but assume Rooks. Have to check this place closer again. Mid-morning, check food on shed roof. Has been opened, the wrapping flapping in the moderate wind. All the cheese removed, rest remaining. The marks on food and packaging are typically cat, clawing and pulling. 1:30pm. Hey! a Jackdaw just flew past my window! Quite close, hung there a moment, glanced in at me, then flew across to the larger offices opposite: looked briefly into most of the eight windows on that side facing me, and sat on an upstairs windowsill for a minute or so. Then back to our side, though I could not see if it was checking our upstairs windows. Then flew across the carpark to sit on the fence around cottages, peering at them. I crept out quietly, only moving while it was facing the other way. It looked around for a while (with me hidden behind cars, watching mostly through glass), then went down into a garden, out of sight. Did not see again. The bird seemed to be alone, and made no calls. A large adult bird, and seemed confident, fearless. 4:30pm. I happened to be up a ladder at the back of our unit. Don't know why, perhaps little gutter-cleaning is a relaxing displacement activity. (:>) Almost too dark too see what I'm doing... but a Rook flew over, high and fast and cawing as wildly as its flight. It was weaving, casting about as though looking for some otherbird, calling for it. And unusually, this bird was also flying in the opposite direction to the large groups that had flown over about half an hour before. ============ Tue 1st Dec 1998: Ha! A mystery solved. Been wondering what has been taking some of the baits on shed roof. Not corvids bill-stabbing through packaging, so was wondering if it was the Grey Squirrel(s) in oaktree, though whatever it is, shows preference for meat. But saw a young domestic cat up there, eating a bit of sausage roll I'd left earlier. Left a whole cheese & onion roll, still in paper and cellophane bag. That should leave better witness marks. Perhaps obvious in retrospect, for the creature was unable to open harder containers. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk48] Fri 27th Nov 1998: 9am. Fields on Selborne road, many Rooks feeding, small groups, large groups, on both sides of the road. Birds to-ing and fro-ing across. And on A339, a lot of activity around the xroads rookery, which had been looking quiet for last months. 10am-ish, notice a solitary Rook in field opposite offices. Joined a little later by another, assume mate. They were there for at least half an hour. Next time I glanced out, they had gone as silently as they had arrived. Definitely frugilegus not corone, and no other birds noticed nearby. Although Rooks are generally gregarious, single birds and pairs are not unknown. Pairs are less uncommon than single-foragers though, so I tend to assume that only fairly mature birds will forage away from family groups: young unpaired birds keep to the relative safety of numbers. Now I think on it, the only single birds I have seen looked fairly old: perhaps having lost a mate through death, but not anxious to rejoin the clamour, or perhaps would no longer be welcomed. ============ Thu 26th Nov 1998: Up and out not as early as I should. (:>) Pair of Crows on lamp post M272/M27 junction, leaning against each other and allopreening. Casual affection, unconcerned by the wheeling gulls above and the screaming traffic below. Must be supremely confident of themselves, for if any cause for nervousness, Corvid pairs will normally perch a clear wingspan apart, such that in need of hasty escape-flight, they do not hamper each the other's pinions. A3 lay-by rookery looking busy in daylight, and many Rooks flying around locally, or perched on nearby telegraph wires. Lunchtime went for a stroll round the lanes and fields. Brown leaves still falling at every turn of the light breeze, though surprising how many deciduous trees still have much green. Most of the Oaks still retain up to half their canopy; I find it distressingly significant that our Office-Oak has not shown a green leaf for at least a fortnight. Some fields just sprouting what must surely be the last crop of this year. Saw a couple of Jackdaws, many Pigeons, and one male Blackbird. Gulls and a few Rooks at distant view, with three of a larger Rook group peeling off to perch on a tree in an isolated clump in the middle of a field. Took one photo, then cawed vigorously at them, hoping for some interest in return. Ignored me though. Raised a Magpie by the Herriard crossroads but it disappeared -- as usual -- by the time I could get a clear sight of where it had flown off to. 2:50pm. Again, Rooks flying over at this time. A much milder day today. Wondering what has prompted their change of habit. 3:10 to 3:40 Many more flew over, this time with some Jackdaws accompanying. Weaving and soaring about more than usual for a roosting flight, but still making rapid progress in a generally southerly or south- easterly direction. ============ Wed 25th Nov 1998: A3 Lay-by rookery, in late evening dark. Bleagh! I want to walk in midnight-woods much more. Just got home. Erm, commuter-journey delayed by beauty of 1st-quarter crescent moon, motorway-seen through leafless trees of a rookery. Attempted photography. Know experiment won't have quite worked: still thinking about best technique. Heh. To rise and unshine early in morn. Never mind, I'll get another glimpse of that rookery to fix in my dawn mind, peradventure to return when fewer clouds to frustrate after delay of parking safe and walking far with tripod shoulder-slung. ------------------ Autumn Sky Rooks are wheeling, wheeling Leaves are falling, falling Sticks are burning, burning Sky is turning, turning grey Pwl, November 1998 ------------------ Tue 24th Nov 1998: 2:30pm. Seems like the Rooks went to roost very early today! Unless merely changing foraging-area. But they all came over flying in the usual southerly-converging directions, same sort of groupings, but about two hours earlier than yesterday. I saw no birds flying over later than 2:50pm. A very cold, foggy day though, and was getting quite dark shortly after. ============ Mon 23rd Nov 1998: 4:15 - 4:30pm. Taking post in the dusk. Been a lovely day for this time of year: cold, but dry and still. The low-angle sun shining all day. Clear red sunset, with just a little mist starting to rise from the fields where many Rooks were feeding earlier. Now they are returning to roosts. The early ones are in a ragged cloud of about 30 birds. They fly right over me at maybe 50ft above, with several birds about the same distance either side, left and right. No calls, and I caw up at them a few times. Ignored. Several more groups come over in same fashion, and a few smaller groups and pairs. One of the last is a pair, flying side by side perhaps five wingspans apart, and in companionable silence. Finally, another large group. Getting darker now, and I hear deep caws, regular and repeated every second or so. One bird is leading from some way in front, and I think the calls are coming from this one. Most of the larger groups seem to have one bird, or sometimes a pair, leading in this way. Only some cawed, but it seemed more were calling as the dusk advanced. All these Rooks were flying pretty well due South. (Grid.) Okay, my speculation for strategy on return to roost: If you see or hear a group coming over like this, you and your feeding group tag along, especially if mainly younger birds. (Question: how fluid is the composition of each group? Do the unpaired youngsters always stay with original family-based group, or do they join any roosting company that is passing at a convenient time?) But an adult pair, of confidence and experience, may prefer to saunter along in their own good time: probably to the same roosts, but they know the route, and are less concerned about risk of getting lost or arriving in full darkness. 'This close-companioned inarticulate hour When twofold silence was the song of love.' ~ Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1881 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk47] Sun 22nd Nov 1998: 10:30am. Large hospital in Cosham, nr Portsmouth. Collecting a stranded friend after suspected appendicitis panic. Was only expecting to pick up to drive home, but the site is huge. Drove round quite a bit. Many Crows foraging in the grounds. There was a paying car-park, but I had come out without cash, having left home quickly after a phone call, and not intending to be visiting shops. Apart from that, I kinda resent being fleeced and taken advantage of in this way. Eventually left vehicle in a quiet side-road, despite signs everywhere stating wheel-clamping in operation. Went searching on foot, took a long time, but eventually found my passenger. Lent her a spare coat I'd brought, and hurried us back to vehicle, feeling fretful. Still there and unclamped, thank goodness. A Magpie stuck head over nearest roof, sure it winked at me. I chattered up at it, "Hello Magpie, and thanks for keeping the mean-minded away!" For as I know full well, these wily birds make themselves and surroundings completely invisible to all clumsy creatures who intend harm. Hrak! Well I hope I don't get taken suddenly ill in this town. The Corvids are lovely, and I have good report of the Nursing Staff... but it seems barbaric to so discourage and make difficulty for the unsuspecting, distracted visitors of the possibly dying patients. ============ Sat 21st Nov 1998: Priddy, Somerset. About 3pm. Watched a single Crow fly past, calling with odd notes. Deep grunts, but made softly: "Harrrrk, awwwkk, cahhhh" sorta thing. Bird was flying powerfully in strong and bitter wind, but fairly low groundspeed, and casting about, weaving low over the contours, head turning from side to side. Don't know what to make of this behaviour. ============ Fri 20th Nov 1998: About 9am. A great wheeling of gulls over motorway, at the major confluence of M272 and M27 around the (Paulsgrove?) rubbish tip and landfill area. Many corvids wheeling amongst them. Presume Carrion Crow, though no chance to take eyes from busy lane-changing road traffic for more than a glance or two. Also saw many Magpies: disdaining the clamour above, calmly perched on nearly all the lamp posts and bridges of that hectic place. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk46] Sat-Sun 14-15 Nov 1998: Went to a little private birthday party, mostly dancing all night, but I kept wandering out in the garden. Looking for the shooting stars that were said to be due. Didn't see any. Never mind: Shortly after daybreak, for about 20 minutes. Watched the Rooks from a country-house back-garden: nests and roost trees becoming visible in the cool clarity of that dawn. Saw darkwinged scouts departing silent in four directions, one soon returning cawful, and all then wheeling high into the sky. Many more birds flew in from many other directions; as singles, pairs, and in dozens. Joined the wheeling throng, adding their own loud voices. It was a tremendous din in total! Then I believe the three other scouts came back, but with little to caw of. All wheeling higher, in loud clamour; it seemed like a navigation discussion. (:>) About 200 birds, though started with about 20. Sudden quiet, and the whole lot went streaking off purposefully in the direction the cawful one returned from. Apart from a few birds that returned to perch quietly back on the main rookery tree, perhaps as guards. I've never seen or heard of this before. Perhaps my sleep-deprived imagination stretches too far. Not sure why anybird would feel need to guard at this time of year either. Exhausted and incoherent, but burbling happily, as any young-old Rook must always do after seeing patterns-in-common betwixt the mighty acorn and the tiny oak sky-reaching. ============ Fri 13th Nov 1998: Visited the Gilbert White Museum in Selborne. Meeting up with two other UK Corvid enthusiasts: the good cyber-Ravens Black and White. Interesting museum, and the garden is well-supplied with Rooks and Jackdaws. So is the whole village, and the countryside surrounding, as we noted on a walk around. Cold and wet and muddy though, so we retired to my house for food and the examination of bookery. A fun day, although we did not find the site of GW's Raven Tree. Another visit at least required then! CAW! ============ Thu 12th Nov 1998: 3:13pm. Many Rooks flew over, southerly direction. 4:28pm. Took post, but saw not a single Rook in the sky. Very overcast with thick low cloud, getting dark earlier today. Coming back, and there is a single large Crow sat right at the top of our oak. Seems to be eating something, or perhaps just arranging in throat pouch: head back with bill open, stretching neck up and down. It stops and looks back at me. I stop, trying not to stare overtly, and it continues, but looking all around. I saunter on, but then it opens wings, casually allows the wind to lift. Airborne, gives me one last glance, then dives swiftly down on the other side of tree. Seems to be pulling out and turning just as gets to hedge height, disappears from view. I am at hedge within seconds, look over, along road, along ditch. Not a sign. But the food I left on the hut roof is gone. Maybe was eating the remains of a cheese & onion roll put out earlier, if the small birds had left much, or maybe the Crow was collecting the last few acorns left on the tree. ============ Wed 11th Nov 1998: Solitary Rook, near A3 lay-by rookery, perched over road traffic on vibrating, wind-shaken wire. Turning to look in all directions, and brief glances down. From demeanour, I would have assumed Carrion Crow. I suppose that birds from a roadside rookery have a very different environment, and have become accustomed to the noise and activity. My rural birds are much too shy for such casual behaviour by a road. ============ Tue 10th Nov 1998: Oddly morning: bright sunshine, but must have rained heavily; lanes flooded with muddy water from field-runoff, and some of the fields near Alton look more like lakes. Too waterlogged for even the Rooks to be interested. Saw only one around that way, perched on a bare tree at the roadside, gazing out across the waters. Waiting with patience for the level to fall, or perhaps moodily contemplating a longer flight for breakfast. Further on, and Nancole Copse comes into view... a solitary Rook glided over from high, dived down and perched on the topmost twigs of tallest tree. Just sat there, gazing around to the horizon. Ah, so I'm pleased to see at least some slight activity there. Perhaps just checking that all is still well with the site? ============ Mon 9th Nov 1998: A beautiful morn, after stormy night. The sunshine gleams across the yellowing autumn lands. A gibbous moon hangs waning in the chalky blue sky for Jackdaws to skitter cheerfully across. Fallen leaves cover the wet roads and Magpies forage into damp leaf-drifts on the verges. Sportive Rooks are wheeling about the trees, many of which are now almost bare-branched. Certainly skeletal enough to once again see the grand old nests peeping through the remnant crown of Nancole Copse. Not that I've seen Rooks around those tree canopies for a while. Still wondering if this has been permanently abandoned, or is just part of the seasonal adjustment of Rook-habits. 4:25pm, taking post round the corner. Rooks, in what seem an endless queue in flight-lane over Hyde Farm. Takes about three minutes to pass, estimate only 200 or so birds though. They are disporting casually, some in tight little groups, some strung out in line- astern behind a single bird, and all attended by many stragglers, pairs or single birds in no particular hurry. Returning from postbox, 4:29, and there are another 50 birds on the other side of the main road; a mile apart, but seem to be on a converging course. One minute later, 10 birds pass overhead as a tight group, fast. I made a quick sketch-plan before I forgot. Have to compare with OS map later, see if it makes more sense. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk45] Fri 6th Nov 1998: Driving along Selborne road, same field but closer: the Pigeons, with one pure white bird outstanding stark among the flock. No traffic behind, so risk stopping for a moment to stare. They are only 25-paces away. White all over, but doesn't look like an albino. Ah! I think it might be called a Dove! Closer to Herriard, see Crows on a wide grass verge. Slow down for closer look, and another three magnificent birds rise in wily suspicion at my interest. They rise from the eyeless carcass of a deer at the edge of road. Not much left, though I'm sure it wasn't there yesterday. The birds duck behind the hedge, and in my rearview mirrors I see them returning as I'm almost out of sight. ============ Thu 5th Nov 1998: A flock of pigeons in a field. One white bird amongst the grey. See many Rooks in the still waterlogged fields. I guess the grubs are driven to the surface, to clumps of grass that project above the quagmire. Easy pickings. Mostly a bright sunny day. In afternoon, before dusk, many corvids flying in long and casual skeins strung out across the sky. Over the fields opposite my office window. All in the same direction today. Still seem to be in a main flyway- route, and it takes about 20 minutes for them all to pass. ============ Wed 4th Nov 1998: Walking to postbox just now, to catch 4:30pm post. Watched a beautiful pair of Crows take off and fly right over me. From field opposite, had noticed them there earlier from my window. Flew in silence, low in a northerly direction. Seemed unconcerned about my presence in the lane just below. Lost sight as they went around the corner of pub roof. Hurried to catch up, but nowhere in sky to be seen. Has happened many times like this, and I'm half-convinced they have a nest or roost in the patch of wasteland just beyond. Have quietly examined that area before, though it is all thorny bushes with no trees. ============ Mon 2nd Nov 1998: Arrived to work a little late and bleary-eyed. Going in the door, and a young Rook or Crow flew over me fast and low, only time for a glimpse as it swooped up to clear the ridge-tiles. But it made an unusual call for either corvid: "Heee-ow-hee-owww." Uh, made me think it was saying "how-are-you?" Cheeky blighter! Nice start to the week then! ============ Sun 1st Nov 1998: Wake up in back of a van, in a carpark in the woods. Tops of two other tousled heads are visible, anonymous in their sleeping bags. It has been a good party, and it is still going: I can hear it even now. Broad daylight, dry but cold. Grab a blanket and quietly slip out, not wishing to wake the girls. My satin Crow-outfit is all crumpled up from sleeping in it. Maybe I have a bit of a headache starting. Back to the remnants of the party; still a few dancing, so join in, keeping close to the fire. Ah! Feeling better already! No corvids visible around our woodland clearing, though I was rather hoping a few might be scavenging the remains of the BBQ. Probably still too much noise and activity. I'm sure the local Crows know all about this place. Must be rich pickings on most weekends. But these civilised ravers tidy the site too thoroughly before leaving. Hah! Driving homewards. A good time for seeing corvids. Plenty of Rooks around the flooded fields. A huge Jackdaw in Winchester city centre, near the statue of King Alfred. More Rooks, a few Crows and one Magpie. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk44] A cold and blustery week, and been very busy too. But had brief glances at many corvids. British Summer Time ended last weekend: reverting to normal GMT, so effectively, I'm out and about one hour later than I was last week. The birds of course, obey only their internal clocks, regulated by the original and definitive timepiece in the sky. What a good idea! Why didn't we think of that? Quite a few Magpies crossing motorways. There is something curious about their method of locomotion: a flurry of wingbeats, followed by tucking wings into sides. Seen similar patterns from smaller birds, such as Starlings, but other corvids will normally keep their wings outstretched if they are not actually flapping them at the time. And in afternoons, getting dark about 4:30pm. From my office window, see many black crow-shapes outlined against the darkly deepening blue of the sky. Usually in pairs, some singles, sometimes six or twenty. Always flapping-flight, leisurely but determined: a serious travelling pace. I guess they are returning to roosts, know the way, and know how long before full dark. I stepped outside a couple of days, to observe better. Hard to tell one species from another in the conditions, unless they call. Which they rarely do, but occasionally I hear the "Cheow" sound of Jackdaw, usually from one that looks a little small to be Rook or Crow. Good, but my initial guesses are often wrong, for they fly at about two hundred feet of the altimeter, and it is not easy to see detail of bill-proportion. I reckon most of them are Rooks though, from something about their flight that I cannot quite define. Whatever, they all behave in a similar manner. Following fairly well-defined flight lanes: one going to the Northwest, and the other going in the opposite direction. Intriguing: similar birds are passing each other on their way to respective night-homes, like fast commuter traffic on the carriageways of a trunk road. About the same numbers in each direction. So why don't the birds simply roost in a nearer place, or forage closer to their roost territory? Well, we often don't. But for us, work and living places may become separated for fairly complex socio-economic reasons. But these are simple birds? I find the implications quite fascinating. What does all this mean, in terms of traditional ideas of birds defending territories from conspecific incursions, when these birds are passing each other on the way? Hmmm... perhaps the behaviour is different at other times of the year. Eh, 'tis all too complicated for me. Will take a lot more study to make sense. For now, I'm just going to a Hallowe'en Party. My Crow-costume is nearly finished. Ah, our sorrow: Ted Hughes died this week. Poet Laureate 1984-97.... "Drinking Beowulf's blood, and wrapped in his hide, Crow communes with poltergeists out of old ponds. His wings are the stiff back of his only book, Himself the only page---of solid ink." Then I am suitably attired for his wake. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk43] Fri 23rd Oct 1998: Ah, wondrous sight! 9am, on the Selborne road, between there and Alton town: three Rooks, out of a field full of groundfeeding birds. These three had evidently had their breakfast fill, and were indulging in ride-the-storm sports. A line of tall thin trees, willowing beside the road. Perhaps grown as windbreak for that field, for the prevailing wind screams over the hillcrest ridge, bearing the road, then straight into the crop. Except that today the field is brown mud, and that the trees deflect the worst of the wind upwards. And that is where I saw the youngling Rook, a this-year juvenile, all-black of face like a little Crow but more pointed of beak, and flanked by two older birds. They were soaring into this up-deflected current. Strong wind? Well, those trees were bent and whipping to halfway on the ground, so I reckon the gale to be fairly fresh. The birds each side were flight-perfection embodied in dark wings. Hung there almost motionless, splayed primaries quivering, vibrating with the aero-forces. Held on station by subtle flexure of wing and half-fanned tail. And the little one in the middle? Making valiant attempt to match, to keep the regulatory ten wingspans from a bird each side, a perfect line abreast, a defiant precision against the erratic gusts. But young one has not the flight-hours yet, and bobs about, up and down, side to side. Making corrections, but later, and so having to put more effort into it. Sometimes losing the updraft-balance, flapping frantically to regain. While the birds each side were not even looking stressed. Turned heads casually from far horizon, to glance at each other and the one between. I'm sure I was seeing Wing-Instructors at work! Probably the parents, for it is the way of Corvids to look after their young from birth until the next year, sometimes longer. They are unusual among birds: not only born with smart instinct, but able to learn a great deal from individual experience throughout life. Well, how bad was the weather today? I awoke to radio reports of evacuations from flooded-out villages to the west, and of severe travel problems all around. Hmm, that won't stop me. Motorways slow but moving, minor roads littered with stalled vehicles. But the middle of the road passable, until someone coming the other way causes both to almost stop, to crawl past each other with a cheery wave. Except for one obviously storm-inexperienced: driving with no lights on round a blind bend, and too fast to stop in a controlled manner. So I gave full power and steered hard into my-side verge with small river occupying, leaving other vehicle skidding sideways across the space I had so promptly vacated.... to stall on my side of the road too! Just as well the car behind me was leaving a careful bow-wave distance then. Ah, well.... Indeed, I succumbed to water churning up from one of the deeper, but less-obviously so, sections of flooded road onto my ignition coil. It was a good twenty minutes of waiting for a gap in the rain before I was able to dry and restart the engine. The road-water was lapping and running over my ankles while I was tissue-mopping the high- voltage terminals and spraying them with the famous (to British motorists) water displacing fluid "WD40". I drove on slowly for the short remainder of my journey, and in bare feet. Saw no aircraft while I was waiting in the puddles, though this was opposite Lasham. But several Crows went hurtling past, ducking and weaving around the trees with casual confidence. Far more graceful than ploughing through water to a stall the engine! ============ Thu 22nd Oct 1998: A very blustery day. Seen only larger birds flying or groundfeeding: Some Gulls near coast, a few Crows battling high and determinedly over the hills, and a field full of Rooks near Selborne. Put some bread on hut, but untouched all day. Seems that it is just too windy for the small birds to fly, and those that are able, are not waiting around here at this time. So I wonder where the Crows have gone; they were regular visitors earlier in the year. Also, where are the local small birds awaiting-out the blast? Had a good peer into the hedge and bushes where the sparrows usually lurk by day, but not a sign. Hmm, if I was a Sparrow, I'd wriggle into the densest, darkest part of the row of conifers on sheltered, leeward side of offices. So I had a good peer into them. Still no sign, but if a Sparrow hid where I'd hide as a Sparrow, I wouldn't expect it to be visible, even to a sensitive predator. ============ Tue 20th Oct 1998: My own usual and preferred car back this week, so purring along M27 out of Portsmouth in mornings: saw several corvids on the high lamp- posts between carriageways.... On successive posts, a Crow, a pair of Magpies, another Crow, then an unoccupied lamp, finally another pair of Crows. All peering up and down the road from their vantage. Gives a new meaning to the term "accident blackspot"! ============ Mon 19th Oct 1998: Gull-like creatures were back in the field opposite most of the morning. Light was bright, many were on closest side of field. Through field-glasses, thought that some (but not all) had slight crest, dark from back of head. Was looking out for this feature, as a helpful email correspondent had suggested a few alternative species from previous description. I'm still puzzled, tho' I expect they are something common and obvious. At least in retrospect! 2pm, went Gliding at the local club on Lasham Airfield. Tremendous fun to be so free of wing, high in windy, cloudy sky! Many Rooks and Jackdaws on field too. It is a good sanctuary for them, for minor price of having to dodge a few erratically-flown sailplanes. Pilot Instructor said that they sometimes have to scare birds away by firing blanks when the large jets are coming in. Birdstrike can be a hazard to fast planes, and blow a jet engine if it goes into air intake. Always messily fatal for the bird, and sometimes so for the plane and occupants. But I'm glad that the airfield people prefer to scare birds away rather than kill them. A kinship of wings perhaps? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk42] A ghastly week of mis-planned vehicle non-availability, so very little opportunity for Rook viewing. But I had to catch trains around on Monday. The expected long waiting around on platforms, looking at wristwatch and sky.... Ah! "Chakka-chakka-chakka!" Four Magpies flew over Petersfield Station. Seemed to be two adult pairs, but in playful mood. Circled round some wasteland, chattering, but evidently decided nothing worth landing for. One bird gave a long series of chaks: that bird and presumed mate set off in determined fashion, and the other pair circled once more before hurrying after them. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk41] Wed 7th Oct 1998: Saw several Magpies this morn, flying across the motorway. Two pairs and a single bird, over about five miles. Travelling high and about as fast as I ever see them in level flight, ie not very fast at all, though wings beating vigorously! They weren't looking down, and I got the impression that they just wanted to get to the other side. It occurs to me that they have learned to keep well above the turbulence of the heavy lorries. I often see them sitting on the side of the road, but I've never seen one crossing at low level. Passing the rookery lay-by, saw many Rooks wheeling about their trees, apparently unconcerned by the people and fast-food trailer below. Saw one Rook alighting with twig in bill. At Herriard, the black and white Gull-like creatures have taken the field opposite again. Several hundred of them. Many on closest side to us, so went and took more photos. They were there most of the morning, their longdrawn "teeeeeeeh-heeeeeeeeee" calls occasionally drifting over in the quiet air. All gone by lunchtime, and saw hardly any activity apart from a few Starlings, and a couple of Rooks that flew over in quiet haste. ============ Tue 6th Oct 1998: Herriard. What are these birds? Seen so many over last few weeks. About same general size and outline as Rooks and Crows. Always seen in a tight group of about forty to a hundred. On ground they look distinctly Gull-ish. White and greys. But in air, seen from underneath, nothing like any Gulls that I see around my coastal home: wings are not pointed or thin enough. Indeed they look more corvid-like, though if anything, wings are slightly broader and rounder toward tips, and not as deeply fingered. The most distinctive marking is that wingtips are very dark, perhaps black, with rest of wing-underside very pale. Wings look quite heavy, dense, no trace of translucency. Their wingbeats are a little lighter: not as heavy or deep as Rooks. Rarely truly gliding or soaring; there always seems to be at least some shallow wing beating. Also they fly a much tighter formation cloud than corvids. All wheel together, so one sees only head-on or underside outline of all birds at once. Like a military parade or marching-band. Not at all like corvids, who fly in looser association (on the odd occasion that so many will deign to congregate), and who usually keep a bit more neighbour-wingspace for their aerial frolicking. Also, I normally see several corvids leave a larger group, check out something, then casually straggle along if nothing of real interest. Rooks don't normally land in a field as one group either; some will go straight in, some will first perch on trees or poles, while some wheel about a bit more before choosing a less-busy spot. 6pm, about a hundred of the Gull-like birds came over, wheeled around in tight flock for many passes, finally settled all at once in field to east. So I crept out to hedge, peered over. Standing, they definitely have white lower-breast, with the rest of visible bird very dark slate-grey. Difficult to see an unmoving bird against dark brown of turned earth, except when one is facing me and lifts head high. Pointed bills in sky outline, but couldn't get colour, or leg detail on ground. Stand fairly high with stance and walk like most Gulls. Cries are occasional, and quieter than Gulls I've heard. A soft keening note, "whheeeee-heeee" ============ Mon 5th Oct 1998: 9:30am. Ummmh, slept through alarm clock, hence still driving up A3. Rooks, perhaps forty wheeling about the rookery trees beside road, and adjacent to a pull-in. This is just south of the major road- cutting through Butser Hill, where I often see Magpies crossing against the sky. Sure enough, I see one do that today. Seems like a long and high flight for it! Busy until lunchtime, go out to check hut roof... a single Rook flies from oak tree, off in northerly direction. Well, the uncovered food all gone, and some bits of onion left behind. Packaged food still undisturbed. Assume small birds only were here over the w/e. Wonder where the Crows of earlier months have gone, and why? And what do the Rooks want? They do not normally hang around this yard, and I would expect them to have not much interest in most of what I leave out. Or inclination to even examine. Though I have heard reports that they will visit even town gardens in a hard winter. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [98wk40] Fri 2nd Oct 1998: 9:30am. Ah wondrous! Many Rooks visiting our oak tree this morn. All came and departed from East. By ones and twos, and a group of four, all shapes and sizes. Among them, a this-year juvenile, all-black of face like a little crow but sharper of beak, delicate and precise of careful, cautious landing on top twigs. Followed closely by a slightly larger one: could have been the same adolescent I saw singing here yesterday, apparently alone. Then a couple of average looking mature birds, seemed like a mated pair, came in with graceful confidence to settle side by side, talons gripping firmly around a stout but thin branch. A few more like these, then finally a magnificent, powerful-looking bird that came in downwind for a purposeful landing and perfect balance on flat top of a large bough. Couldn't be bothered to turn into wind; just gave a couple of backwing movements to reduce closing-speed, folded wings to drop with a single loud caw to a proud stance. What a show-off! There was a bit of rustling about, birds walking or jumping with some wing-assistance among smaller branches. Looked like they were pecking and bill-twisting acorns off, eating them. Heard only normal Rook-caws, uttered fairly softly between themselves. Flew off casually, more or less in the same order that they arrived, as far as I could tell. They were carrying acorns away with them, delicately held in bill-tips. I guess it is food caching activity, but I had a sudden mental picture of them planting these acorns somewhere, and never going back for them. The large solitary bird was last to leave; leapt into air, flew strongly but slowly past a convenient branch, and without stopping or touching anything else, carefully bill-pulled an acorn out of its cup. Then soared upwards, and dived away after the others. Certainly a magnificent and enthralling sight, though I have no idea why this little group were foraging away from the much larger group that were in the field to East. Or the social interaction between them all. ============ Thu 1st Oct 1998: Saw many bedraggled Rooks, fieldfeeding between Selborne and Alton. Hunched and flicking water from a sudden soaking. Another squally, gusty morn, though not raining when I got to Herriard. 10:30am. Watched a single Rook coast downwind from direction of ploughed field opposite, over lane to East. Directly to top of our oak. Turned on a near-vertical wingtip into wind, hovered and dropped slowly to a perfectly controlled landing on very thin twigs. While hovering, wings outstretched, uttered a very high pitched mewling sound, a modulated sequence of about six or seven syllables, long and short. A single gruff caw seemed to come in reply from another bird in the tree that I could not see. Silence for a minute or so, then the newcomer took off and glided steeply down into wind, picked up the updraft from steep-pitched cottage roof. Rose stiff- winged on this and plunged down the other side, back over lane towards field. But did not see it re-appear on that flight-line, so must have turned and flown below hedge. Crafty blighter. It seemed a fairly young bird, small and slender of build, though bearing the adult pale face-patch and bill. Beautiful and sleekly fletched, not a darkglossed plume out of place. A masterful flyer, this little Rook. Back again a half hour later. At least I think it was the same one. Repeat of dialogue, though the sequence of long and short mewls differed. This time, after it flew off in the same manner as before, I went and walked all around and under the tree. And could not spot any bird there! If there was another, it is a master of hiding behind a few tatty leaves! Was there only one bird then? Talking to itself? And answering in a different voice? A master ventriloquist if so! ============ Wed 30th Sep 1998: A really rough morn, roads awash. Arrived late, look out window to see Carrion Crow on roof opposite. Looks well-bedraggled but uncaring. An adult, but think fairly young. Walking up and down ridge tiles, just peering around the sky. No call, but I get the impression it is waiting or looking around for mate. Perhaps they lost sight of each other in the squally blast. A couple of minutes later, another comes over, flying high but slow. Bird on roof looks happier, but waits until other nearly overhead before casually taking off and flying in the same direction without climbing. Then the higher bird turns at 90deg, and they both fly off in a new direction. I have often seen C. corone pairs patrolling like this. I guess the advantage is to have higher bird to observe a wide area, with the low-flyer checking out closer details of prospective breakfasts. Saves either bird having to waste energy in altitude- gain. An important aspect of this sort of stealthy pair-work must be the development of good non-verbal communication skills. Midmorning, saw a pair of Jackdaws fly over, also in high-low formation, but they were calling to each other all the time. But C. monedula are more usually to be found in foraging-units of typically six to a dozen chattersome birds. Lunchtime warm and sunny apart from the winds, still strong and gusty. Strolled out, saw many Rooks flying around in sportive fashion. A bit of casual feeding in the ploughed field opposite, but they really seemed more interested in stretching their wings in the sunlight and having a good caw-chase. Three flew over, fast and low, ducking and weaving around bushes and buildings, danced around our oak tree and then sat in it for a minute. Then off again with much high-pitched squealing-caws and showing off in daredevil follow-my- leader style. It looks great fun! Mon 28th Sep 1998: A grey morning, but not windy. Thought I saw solitary Housemartin flitting in the distance midmorn. Plenty of Corvids around, looking busy. The fields behind offices have started sprouting green shoots. Just one or two Gulls, having a casual poke around. Seen many small groups of Starlings in transit, and gathering in ever-larger numbers over the past few days. Raining in afternoon, then a sudden clear patch. Saw about eight Housemartins swirling around briefly. About 4:30pm glanced out at field opposite: six Gulls. Umh, species: *bloody-big* were in possession. Nineteen Rooks arrived and flew over and around them with much cawing. Gulls bunched up a little to start with, moved into one side of field. Rooks took other side. Then a mixed group of about fifty more Rooks, this time with several Jackdaws turned up. The whole lot then hassled the Gulls some more, though they would not budge further. Indeed, one Gull strolled over to the closest small group of Corvids and flapped wings at them. About twenty large Rooks --from different parts of the field-- promptly flew over and screamed abuse at the Gull.... Which flew off in haste to rejoin its fellows. After that, all seemed to settle down, and birds just got on with groundfeeding in peace. Throughout this time, there always seemed to be at least one Rook perched on a pole, looking around everywhere but at the field: it took no notice of what was going on below, but seemed intent on scanning the roads and adjacent farmhouse for possible outside interference. 6pm. Fields empty. Getting dusk-ish early with the low cloud. Three Jackdaws in line astern flew over, calling continuously. A "cheow" every second, but not sure if only one or all birds calling. And trailing a long distance behind, another group of five, no formation and silent. All flying fairly high and to the Southeast. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ D:\PERSONAL\ROOK98Q4.DOC 22/01/99 23:03