OBSERVATIONS IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER Times in GMT/UST (Add 1 hour for UK BST between 28th March & 31st October 1999 if required) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk13] Fri 2nd - Sat 3rd Apr: Was at a party all night. Wandered out in the garden for fresh air quite often, all silent until the early dawn. Many small species live in or around a magnificent Yew tree here. Could not see any Rooks perching in distant trees, nor rookeries, this time. Puzzled, for I'm sure I have seen them from this spot before. Well past dawn, a single Rook flew over, cawing. Also heard the calls of Jackdaws, though could not see them. Male Blackbird busy on the moss-covered roof of an old outbuilding. Making wide sweeping motions with little yellow bill to turn over great swathes of debris, then jumping on whatever wriggles in it. I think the bird has lived here quite a while, is very familiar with the habitat and the fact that the people here like the wildlife in their fairly wild garden. It is so tame that it ignores people to the point of barely glancing up when a door opens, and walks casually within a few feet of the kitchen window that I am staring out of. As I was again, making a cup of tea much later. Full daylight, and several people milling around me. Catch a glimpse of a dark tail, fanned out, just passing corner of window. I remark on it, and someone else glances out to say it was a Pigeon. Sure enough, two of them are just landing. I blink, thinking I must be rather tired to make such a mistake. Look harder, but keeping still. Sure enough, and there it is: a Rook, almost hidden in a small tree, low branch. I only see it because it moves, looking around warily. Looks up for a longer moment, and I follow the line of gaze. Another Rook, near top of tree, but also discretely tucked into branches. This bird glances back down, seems to nod head, then resume outward vigil. Lower bird drops silent to lawn, unhurried, but directly to some pale, flat objects in the grass. Spends a moment poking at a few, then selects one and takes it back to the branch it just left. Holds its find under one foot, and appears to be trying to fold it up. Looks like a square of brown packing-cardboard, fairly thick, about three inches square. Turns it around and pulls at it a few times, finally takes it back into bill, tossing head until has it gripped firmly at point of balance. Flies off immediately without glance or sound. The higher bird follows. Not a sound from either of them. Later, I wander out to see what sort of thing they were interested in. Find a few bits of broken wood from a packing case, thin deal such as is used for crating fresh fruit in. Ah! That is why the bird seemed puzzled at difficulties in folding. I think she was also expecting a piece of dew-soaked cardboard. Oh well, probably still worth trying for nest lining. As it is, or break it up a bit more, but puzzle the grain of it in convenience and security of own nest- tree: not so close to the scary human habitations. ============ Thu 1st Apr: Late afternoon, put more food out under hedge, and sit my plastic Magpie decoy on a branch above. Checking out some ideas I mentioned on a newsgroup. Well, I can say that Sparrows, Blue Tits, and Blackbirds don't seem at all perturbed by this. Maybe try again when nesting season for those smaller species is properly underway. Never seen any real Magpies on this estate; closest I have seen are along the A339 opposite Lasham. Many around there, and it has always been a source of some puzzlement to me as to why the 'pies have such a patchy distribution. 6pm. I've just seen a BAT out in the carpark! First of the year for me! Reminded me to email a bat-friend, not heard from for several months... "CAW! [indignant toss of head] No, I didn't eat it! Would be very hard to catch anyway, so I didn't even try to peck at it. (:>) Very lovely too, flittering around in the dusk. Twinkie-twinkie little bat, How I wonder what you're at!" ============ Mon 29th Mar: A miserable, drizzly and cold morn of dull overcast. Not cheered by having to get up an hour earlier, as British Summer Time officially started yesterday. Bah, Humbug! I've decided to ignore it as far as possible this year. I've not changed my timepieces. They remain on GMT. These days I have not the time to change the time on so many clocks. (:>) Besides, I really do not care for the artificiality of the custom, and most of my interests are with creatures that note only the time of day as determined by the sun-position. Which is our original and definitive measure of time anyway. So on one more thing I am out of step with the rest of the official world. [shrug] I hear the beat of a different drum. Times shown for any observations this year are for Greenwich Mean Time then, or Universal Standard Time, as it is also known. Been too busy this last fortnight to do more than note that corvids are still flapping around my frenzied world. Many more Rooks are roosting in their own rookeries now. Dusk flights to winter roosts seem to be over for this season. Put some odd bits of food out. A single Blue Tit was out there, but only for favourite pastime of vandalising the jeep parked in its usual place. Though it's a different vehicle today: a Mitsubishi Shogun, but that has very similar mirror to perch on. So perhaps it is the place rather than a particular vehicle that the bird likes. The Sparrows had the food, and did not see any others around whenever I looked up. Went home early, via a meandering route to take in a few more rookeries. Nests have appeared at The Avenue/Back Lane junction, with many birds perching in the area. Cawed up at them, and was surprised to hear mainly Jackdaw voices in answer. Turned left towards Golden Pot and note many more nests further along Avenue, as there were last year. Take the obscure little lane on right, round to Shalden, and down Shalden Lane to approach the A339 xroads rookery from that side: a better view, and opportunity to dawdle. Many Rooks having a last feed in field on my right as I go downhill. Cawed, and many looked around in puzzlement. Most went back to billjabbing in the ground, though a few of the closer ones looked a little nervous and moved further away. Oh, well. Main rookery looking busy, and plenty of activity at the overspill site across the main road too. On to Alton, and large rookery near The Butts also busy. Seems strange to arrive home in daylight, about 6:30pm GMT. Several Carrion Crows flew over at rooftop height and went into trees at end of road. Can't see one today, but I'm sure thee was a remnant nest in it earlier in the year. Sorry specimens now though, those trees: have been very heavily lopped. But such is the way of "ornamental" trees in residential streets. Big beasts though, probably original, so maybe 80-90 years old. I think they are London Planes, from memory. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk12] Fri 26th Mar: Been a busy week, rushing about at odd times. Saw many corvids, various, but no time to note details. Evening, 9pm in Herriard, waiting for my last prints from a duplex-printer to stack in the output hopper. But it did give me time to wander outside, look at stars, and listen to the Owls. Lovely moonlight, clear but cold.... gaze up at moon, thinking it's worth it sometimes, just to be alone in the dark countryside under that timeless gaze, uncaring of the troubled world. And then I beheld an awesome sight! It formed before my very face! A Moonbow! Of misty, aethereal, silvr'y form! A circle, entire! Ran for camera and film and tripod. Shot a roll, different exposures and angles and lenses. Should be at least one that shows I did not imagine! Tho' some things can never be captured: on film, in words, or in memory of a mortal man. Ah, such is the beauty of a magical moment. The wildness of Nature: not to be caged, and unlooked for, sudden. The Moonbow faded. The Owls were still hooting. I went back inside and my prints were done. ============ Thu 25th Mar: Jackdaws hollering outside mid-morning. Some fuss about which family is claiming the best tree in the field opposite I think. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk11] Wed 17th Mar: A fine warm spring day. Went to a funeral in Chichester. Had a lift from friend who didn't want to turn up on her own, so I had a good view of many rookeries on the drive over the South Downs. I was unexpectedly pressed into being the official Funerary Photographer too, and had a camera thrust upon me. After the very beautiful and heartfelt service, used the film up around the grounds. There was even a Rook perched on an overlooking tree. A solitary bird, rather unusual for them, and kept a dignified dressed-all-in-black presence for perhaps an hour or so. As far as I could tell it was the same one, though I had not sight of it while indoors at the Chapel of Rest. Though I could hear -- and I think to recognise individuals by their voice -- the same bird make an occasional caw. Don't know why it was there, as no other birds anywhere seen or heard, so sentry- duty seemed unlikely. Naturally, I cawed back when all the other mourners had departed. Looked down at me with a solemnity befitting the occasion before croaking a reply. Probably managed a couple of photos too, though I didn't have a long enough lens. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk10] Tue 9th Mar: Herriard, lunch-time. Pair of Rooks flew over, one carrying a bundle of small twigs. Wonder why only one doing the carrying, though both were flying as pair. Went off towards rookery in Bagmore Lane. Have not checked that one for a while now. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk09] Fri 5th Mar: Saw four Rooks having a scrap at a nest this morning, A3 lay-by rookery. Probably arguing over a much-prized stick. (:>) It looked like a bit of genuine anger too, bill and wing and talon in the melee. And passing Selborne, two of the local Dark Corvidae chasing and weaving high over a rookery... one large bird ("CAW! bet you can't catch me, shorty-tail!") and a much smaller one ("CHEOW! wanna bet, baldy-beak!"), but they seemed in sport, sheering out from just wingtip-touching. Seemed like playing tag. The Rook probably has the greater wing-power, but the Jackdaw can tuck even tighter and faster in the turn. A dazzling display of skilled aerobatics though. ============ Wed 3rd Mar 1999: Went to photo show at NEC near Birmingham. Rooks and rookeries aplenty to be seen from motorway. Interesting to note that many nests seem to be placed quite low in flimsy trees on embankments. Despite the noise and fury of so much traffic, I suppose they know by now that the areas behind the crash-barriers are rarely visited or disturbed by people. Of course they scavenge the carriageways and verges, and perhaps not only for food. I saw three birds, definitely Rook not Carrion Crow, settle onto the steel crash-barrier. One hopped down and ran right to the edge of traffic-lane, quickly but carefully picked up a scrap of paper in bill, and retreated to safer area with prize. The other two birds appeared to be keeping watch, looking intently into the approaching traffic -- perhaps for the huge lorries which, cruising at 70mph can generate enough slipstream vortex and suction to knock a fully grown man over and pull into the traffic lane. And perhaps also keeping a beady eye out for some unfortunate soul having an engine failure or tyre blowout, and so making use of that emergency-only lane to run vehicle out of the thundering traffic flow: in the UK, our motorways are provided with "the hard shoulder" for this purpose and this purpose only -- with strictly-enforced laws about not stopping there without good reason. People have been towed away before they can even change a wheel. But the Rooks seem to take it as a no-man's-land, and treat with due caution. ============ Tue 2nd Mar 1999: 9:30am. Passing A339/Shalden Xroads rookery, see a wonderful demonstration of a Rook performing a stalling-glide: bird dropping from top of tree to pass over road right in front of me. Wings and tail spread out and cupped, body pointing too far up for normal glide-attitude. The creature drops/glides downwards at about 45 degrees of descent. Not a stable aerodynamic situation, at least in the passive sense: whereas a normal glide requires only drift- corrections, this sort of flying requires active-balancing on top of the air-cushion: natural situation would be to turn over on back. Skilled control of flight surfaces, flexing to spill a little air to correct against the positive-feedback trying to emphasise the flip. I'm very envious of such a trick. Don't think even the best pilot could do that with any fixed-wing modern aircraft. ============ Mon 1st Mar 1999: Drizzly-miserable rain all day. Quite a few Rooks flying about and looking busy on my way in. 12:30 had to dash out to Petersfield, saw several in trees and one on post right beside road, all looking somewhat bedraggled, but stoically gazing out at the grey sky and flooding fields. 2:30pm, on way back to base, passing Greatham, many Rooks flying around trees with sticks, but ancient Selborne rookery full of bored-looking birds. Perhaps long-established rookeries require less effort to maintain. Nancole Copse empty and silent, and I note that many scarecrows, (merely old agri-chemical plastic sacks on stakes) have been placed in the adjacent field. 5:30pm, large roosting-flight of Jackdaws, but hardly any Rooks with them. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk08] Tue 23rd Feb 1999: Bright but cold again, though less wind. Crows over motorway, and perching on lamp-posts. They turn to approach into wind, and settle gracefully with outstretched wings on the smooth top surfaces. Many Rooks flying around Greatham. The area seems to building up in numbers, though the existing rookery is very small, perhaps half a dozen nests in one isolated oak tree in field. I note that many are often to be seen perching in other trees over the road, closer to some habitations. Want to stop and explore, but no time today. Rooks in plenty around Selborne, but only sitting in their trees with feathers fluffed-up, looking morose. Lapwings, or the synonymous Peewits, in a large flock wheeling without formation over farmlands just before Herriard Midmorning, a pair of agile little Tomtits visit the hedge outside. One sits on top twigs and trills, while the other goes and beats hell out of the door-mirror on a car parked just the other side of hedge. They seem to ignore the stale and broken crackers I have scattered under the hedge, and the portion of cheese & onion roll I have jammed into a twig-fork. The pragmatic Sparrows and one Robin get most of the food on the ground, and are joined by one of the female Blackbirds a little later. Interestingly, none of these little birds seem to have discovered, or perhaps have no interest in, the bread and cheese right above them. Curious, for yesterday's offering of same was still there at 9pm last night, but was gone without trace by the time I got in this morning. Next time I go out, throw some cat-biscuits under the hedge. Look out window a little later.... Ha! A dog is eating them! Large black and white scruffy- creature. Step outside: I want to see and hear what the birds think of this. The Tomtit is still vandalising car, but others have gone out of sight. Dog ignores me as I stand quietly, but must have got a whiff of cheese. Attempts to get muzzle into hedge, but too hard to get at. Gives up, looks over at me mournfully, and walks off. The small-feathers return. 4:30-5:30pm. Getting dusk slow and early, dense cloudcover but very cold. Don't expect to see moon tonight! Tomtit still hammering at the same car, apart from an occasional break to eat some cheese, now discovered. The vehicle is a Daihatsu jeepy-thing, c1987. Why the bird is attacking one mirror, on only one car out of the forty or so out there is not known to me. The object of his attentions is now well-scuffed, and the door and side window thoroughly whitewashed. I expect the owner will be puzzled and displeased. Jackdaws and Rooks pass over, maybe 200 again, with the 'daws outnumbering by about ten to one. Flying much higher tonight in the calmer air, but at least I can hear them. ============ Mon 22nd Feb 1999: Bright and sunny, but with a bitter wind this morning. Rooks seem to be staying in or close to their nesting trees: plenty of activity at Greatham, Selborne, Nancole Copse and all other rookeries I pass. Don't see any birds field-feeding in usual places, though a few were in a ploughed field at Greatham just opposite their trees. Interestingly, there was a Magpie flying among the Rooks over the main nest-tree, and another flitting about the field, again in company of Rooks. 5:20pm. The wind has dropped a little, though still icy-cold outside. About 200 Jackdaws come overhead, milling and sliding around the sky, but seem in a bit of a hurry. First-quarter moon, high, almost above. Very lovely to see the ragged dark wings so rimed. 5:40pm. See a few more 'daws, and the more leisurely wingbeats of Rooks, several, flying in pairs, but each pair at some distance from the next. Then a curious thing: a pair of Jackdaws, flying on a convergent course slightly from one side.... They circle and turn into wind, soar-holding until the next Rook-pair pass, and fall in behind them. I see this happen three times, the last time with four Rooks meeting four Jackdaws, who waited in a holding-pattern for quite some time: I could not even see the Rooks to start with, but as they hove into view, the 'daws changed tack slightly, to drift closer before tucking-in close behind. I didn't hear many calls, but that was probably because of too strong a wind, and car engines running close to my position. Seen no other birds here at all today. Even my Sparrows and Blackbirds were not visiting the hedge outside, though I had put some food out for them. Wonder where they are hiding? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk07] Thu 18th Feb 1999: 5:20pm. Corvids wheeling over the fields opposite. Didn't see them arrive, but looks like most of the usual roosting-flight. Though several small groups from usual direction also flew straight past without joining in. A lot of caws and cheows all the time from the circling birds. More drifted in, and from several directions. Round for a few more turns, then they all flew onward. Don't see any clue as to why their routine has differed today. Heard several shotguns being fired fairly close by, but that is not unusual, and unlikely to be anything do with them. The Rooks are too high anyway, and seem to take no notice of what is probably a Pheasant-shoot below. Day has been cold, cloudy, and windy. ============ Wed 17th Feb 1999: 3:30pm. The Lapwings (now my tentative ID for "strange gull-like birds with broad wings) are back. Thought I'd seen some fly over yesterday, and now a large flock in field behind us. With two Carrion Crows that were following along behind. Size difference between the species more apparent when seen together. They all seemed happy enough to share the field. Crows casually dispersed among them, not sticking closely together, no arguments. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk06] Fri 12th Feb 1999: Rooks were dallying about on the green in Alton this morning. A few were wandering about in middle of road, ignoring foot-traffic on pavement. Scuttle off quickly at last moment when a vehicle approaches. Town Rooks seem so much more nonchalant about the presence of people, than are the shy and nervous Rooks over the surrounding farmlands. I assume that they are from different rookeries, and long association with the town has taught them that humans may safely be ignored. Just my assumption though: it is possible (though seems unlikely) that the same birds perceive the difference in threat-level between homo-urbanicus and homo-rusticus, and treat them accordingly as different species. From a Rook's viewpoint, that would be entirely reasonable, and in accordance with the observable facts. 5:20-5:27pm. A fine afternoon, and the roosting-flight somewhat later. Counted 172 birds passing over on the usual course. This from looking out my window without going outside, so probably missed any that were on a parallel course at any distance to one side. ============ Thu 11th Feb 1999: This morning saw a Rook carrying what I think was a billful of dry leaves, towards A339 Xroads rookery. Seems a bit early in the season to be putting the finishing touches, the lining, to a nest! Though the sun was shining, and much of the snow has melted. Perhaps the bird is refurbishing an intact nest. The trees of that rookery are fairly sheltered in the valley. 5:05-5:10pm. Glance up to see black specks on the horizon out of my office window: part of the dusk roosting flight, but not many birds, and too far past me to ID. Go outside, and the rest come over. Still not very many today, and would easily have missed them all if I was not expecting at about this time. They pass too far to the side to get an accurate bearing, but hold a handcompass to a rough parallel anyway: about 160 Magnetic. Not checked on the map, but that would take them about over the spot on the southern edge of Lasham Airfield that I observed them flying over a few days ago. ============ Tue 9th Feb 1999: Clear and sunny today, but looks likes more snow fell during the night. Probably only half an inch or so, but sufficient to cause chaos on the roads. It is always a source of some amusement to me that such a little bit of Hampshire Fluff causes consternation, whereas in other parts of the country that really do get enough snow to represent a physical difficulty, the inhabitants just get on it, as it is considered quite a normal weather. (:>) 4:45-5:25. By occasional glance out of window, see a few corvids on the roosting-flight in usual direction. But not many; fifty birds or so, and a few pairs. ============ Mon 8th Feb 1999: 9am. Snowing. Fairly lightly, just dusting the fields and trees. See a few corvids flying about, hard and fast, singles and pairs mostly, and in all directions. A few Rooks inspecting the field that they were eating from so enthusiastically yester-eve, but don't seem to quite approve of what they find this morn. Only large group I see are about fifty, wheeling above Nancole Copse. 11:30. Go outside with a mug of coffee and snack in the falling snow, see eight or so corvids, think Rook, wheel briefly over field opposite and settle into largest tree. 12:30. Rooks are still in their tree. Small birds are scrabbling under the hedge outside our front door, where I scattered some crisps: a couple of Sparrows, and one of the shy brown birds. Don't see its associate, and it is as nervous as always. Flitters away every time someone enters or leaves the building. The Sparrows barely bother to glance up at people passing a couple of paces away. A male Blackbird arrives to see what all the interest in the hedge is about. Hopping about with the snow settling on his tailfeathers. Fairly sure of ID, from being very dark all over (though dull and not quite black), with bright yellow beak. No bright eye-ring though. Slightly smaller and more pert, alert, upright of stance, than the mid-brown bird, when I see them both together. Then a Robin arrives! Eh, but I remember feeding one of those, on the first few days I was here. Uhh, five years ago? It was snowing then as well. It always seems appropriate to see Robin Redbreast against new- fallen snow. 1:30. Enough of this! Been doing tight-detail work all morning, but want some life and inspiration. Out for a walk in the snow! That'll waken me! The Rooks have gone from their tree, but I'm going over in that direction anyway. Lots of twittery little things in hedgerows along Back Lane; they scoot up into tree at my approach. I try to copy their twitter- sound, and they scold me back, twice as much. So I give a most almighty caw. Makes 'em jump a bit! And much to my own surprise, an astonished-looking pair of very beautiful Crows shot out of that tree too! I did not even know they were anywhere around, tho' had been looking hard for corvids. Well, they dived steeply down on the far side of the tree, flattened-out at ground level and streaked off into the field. So lovely in the dive and elegant turn, deep-black wings scything through the whiteness. Then to slow a little, wondering why so befussed... blackness incarnate making a gentle glide in white. One stopped in the middle of the field, looking back over at me with suspicion and slight embarrassment... "Oh, I was gonna fly over here anyway," sort of expression. I couldn't see the other in the whiteout. Up as far as The Avenue, which bounds the airfield, before I turned round. This is the junction that had a small rookery opposite, last year. Disappointed that not a trace remains of any old nests in those trees. I wonder if the Rooks will build afresh on the same site this year. There were certainly many birds on the airfield, and perching in those trees in the latter part of last year. 5:30. Quite dark by now, but go out to check car radiator water level before I forget and just drive home later. Birds are making their bedtime territorial-noise in the hedges and conifers around me. The two shy brown birds are back in company, closely following each other around the carpark. Don't seem to be eating, nor are they joining the dusk-chorus. Blackbird streaks over, lands between them, chitters in an assertive fashion, flicking tail up and down, then flies off again. The brown birds jump nervously at his approach, but do not back away. Nor do they follow. I was wondering if they could be Blackbird females or young, though I've not seen anything definite to support that. Did not see any corvids on roosting flight in the evening, but even if they were there, they would have been invisible to me in the conditions. Hmm, though surely they would have just flown lower, to be able to see the ground themselves? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk05] Sun 7th Feb 1999: A flurry of snow in Portsmouth, but mostly a bright and sunny day. Go out in afternoon to visit friend. Her van has been stood unused for a few weeks, needs a drive. So I suggest going for a meander round Herriard, see if I can track my Rooks to their winter-roost quarters. Not sure how much longer they will be making this dusk- flight. Driving on B3006, many Rooks having a last hearty meal of the day in a freshly ploughed field. The low-angle sunlight glinting on black wings as they fly nonchalantly alongside or cross road in front. We think it a very beautiful scene. No occupiers in any of the rookeries we pass, and no large flight overhead: I am driving northerly on the A339, so would expect to meet them head-on if they've already started. But I'm not expecting them yet, as the light is still so good. Arrive Herriard and turn round in office carpark without seeing more than an occasional corvid. We did a see a Kestrel hover and dive over roadside field a mile or two before. The little brown birds are still hopping around the carpark. So before 5pm, we are parked at the edge of the airfield, at junction of perimeter track and the lane into Lasham. A good view of a lot of sky, an open vista across the airfield to where I am expecting the Rooks, having always lost sight of them from the other side of the airfield, looking like flying straight across. About 5:15 they come over, fast and at about 150ft. Directly overhead and about equally disposed on both sides, so I reckon my positioning-guess is spot-on. But only about 200 or so birds, where I am expecting at least 1000. So in that sense, a little inconclusive. Could be just the local clan, cutting a local corner to join the main flight further away. Hmm, seems unlikely, from the way they are flying and their course. I take hand-compass bearings on several birds, both forward and reverse. Values range from 135 to 180 degrees magnetic: averaging and allowing for local deviation, say 160 to 165 degrees, or just a little easterly of Grid South. Despite the old saying, corvids rarely hold a straight path for very long: though the whole flock is moving in a purposeful direction, individuals frolic around quite a bit. ============ Fri 5th Feb 1999: My shy little pair of dark-brown birds are around every time I go outside. Possibly they have got used to the idea that there is always something to snack on when I've been out there. Hehe, they seem to have forgotten their argument of yesterday, and call shrill warning to each other, and both scoot round a tree or fence soon as I'm spotted. Far more sensible of behaviour! I'm not so sure about my ID as Thrush though: have rescued several of those from within building over last few years, and though only held briefly, sure I'd recognise them again. Well, whatever they are, I'm still convinced they are younglings. ============ Wed 3rd Feb 1999: Noon, but dull and dark. Had earlier thrown a small handful of breakfast-cereal around the back of building. Two birds, I think Thrush of some kind, but juveniles rather than a mated pair, are hopping about. Shy but somewhat naive creatures I've seen often in the carpark: fleeing from a vehicle passing in the lane fifty paces away, but not noticing a cat watching them with narrowed eyes from much closer. One bird has some food in its bill, but the other keeps running after it, ignoring the food on the grass, which I can see from here. Here being twenty paces away, but standing still with a low and thin ornamental carpark-hedge between us. Hardly what I call good cover. The pursuit degenerates into a general brawl with much flutter and flash of little beaks. I reckon they are too intent on this to notice much else, so start creeping around towards them. I get to within three paces, completely in the open. Just by moving very slowly and pretending to be a small tree. I think to continue, see if I can get within grabbing-distance, and try to take one or both in my hands. Heh, give them a lesson to remember to pay attention! Maybe it's mean of me, but think it amusing. But their antics carry them under the thicker old hedge and ditch between us and the main road, and I cannot follow. I back away quietly, thinking to try again later. They were completely unaware that they'd just been stalked by a potential predator. If I was a cat I'd have had at least one. And even as a clumsy human, if harm had been my intent, I could probably have killed both with a stick. It is no surprise that so many young birds never survive their first winter. This is a sorrow to me, but I suppose it must work out to keep the birds to be at least "holding their own" in species-survival terms: they produce "extra" young to compensate for losses. Statistically, they must get it right... or they wouldn't be around for me to observe. Those that got their guesses too far wrong are now extinct. Been plenty of those, for the way of survival is of harsh law. Not sure how much margin for error there is either. I guess there are many feedback-loops controlling the balance, and other factors will fine-tune the survival-ratio. Or is it the other way about? Do the birds produce more young in advance of knowing that a winter will be especially hard? Hmm, a species' energy-budget is not unlimited: cannot produce too many young in one nest. Perhaps the mechanism would involve more younger birds breeding, in times where fewer survived the previous winter, and thus having less competition of territory for nesting in, and to find food for their own young. Complicated subject. Be interesting to computer-model some of this. And then check with real observations, to find it even more complex, probably. (:>) Snowdrops are coming up! Just spotted a little clump of them behind a hedge. Casting around, see a few more single flowers, just poking through, dotted about behind the building. First I've seen this year, though a colleague was telling me last week that he had seen some coming out locally. ============ Tue 2nd Feb 1999: 9am. A very mild morning, sun shining like Spring has arrived. Unlikely. But seeing more corvids carrying sticks: a Magpie over motorway near Cowplain, and a Rook again at Greatham. Again, very few Rooks on Selborne route, but many just coming out of Alton. Nancole Copse looking empty, but large flock of Rooks in field just over the main road. Carrion Crow eating dead deer on verge passing Lasham. 5:58pm. The last pair of a huge flock of corvids just gone out of sight in the dusk. At least a 1000 birds, seem to be mostly Jackdaws by their calls and wingbeats, but quite a large proportion were Rooks, mainly in silence but with the occasional guttural caw. Took about ten minutes to pass over, in long ragged skeins. Some groups directly overhead, some passing by about a quarter mile away. All travelling approximately grid-South. In no particular hurry to roost on this calm evening. ============ Mon 1st Feb 1999: 9am. Cloudy and cold, but calm air. Glimpsed a Rook bill-carrying a stick at A325/B3006 junction, Greatham. First one I've seen doing so this year. Not sure whether it is a late autumn patchup-job, or the bird is optimistically early for a spring building. Very few birds around Selborne or the fields before Alton, but many in field on left, just joining A339. And one Magpie sat in a bush, watching out over them. Passing Nancole Copse, note at least a hundred Rooks, all sat on topmost branches of tallest trees. Seem to be all facing the same direction, directly out across the main road. Many deer running across main road near Lasham today. One knocked down by a car not far ahead of me, and saw some near misses. Already slowing in caution at another spot I've seen them jumping into road from over a blind hedge, so my own evasive actions were successful. Already enough venison for the Crows, though the local people will often take a deer-carcass from the road, if fresh and not too damaged, for their own larders. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk04] Wed 27th Jan 1999: A lovely morning, bright and calm; saw Crows sat on the motorway lamp-posts around M272/M27 interchange. Nothing to hook claws round on top of those, so only get used for perching on almost windless days. See hardly any Rooks in the fields, but passing through Alton, a few Crows are occupying the green. One is in a tree barely ten paces away to my side while I'm stationary-queuing. I wind my window down and give a single loud caw, taking care to be not be seen looking at... but watching the Crow around the door-post. It jumps around on branch with a surprised and querulous caw of its own, peering all over the traffic queue and the houses on that side. Still fine weather by lunchtime, so think to make the most of it: unlikely to last long at this time of year. A visit to Nancole Copse then, without risk of a sudden soaking. Park car and change footwear for boots and add long socks pulled over bottom of trousers. Hat with warm earflaps. Camera bag and tripod slung over shoulders, and I look quite the Lunchtime Expeditioner. (:>) Scramble up bank, walk across fields, skirting the woodland strip between me and the main road. I can hear distant caws, but they are on my left, over the road, and not from the rookery which is ahead and to my right. The fields are squelchy, and the woodland tracks are worse. I think this little patch of wood is managed with other parts of a larger estate, for there are often piles of freshly cut logs where the track enters the wood, and wheeled vehicles have left deep ruts full of water. There are a couple of pheasant-feeders in small clearings. These are made from old metal oil-drums, about two feet in height, one foot diameter, with slits cut at the bottom and a wooden lid on top. They are filled with dried grain, which can be pecked out through the slits. A fair amount also spills out onto the ground. I wonder how many wild birds avail themselves of this bounty? Don't remember seeing drums in this wood before. Further under the trees, it is mainly carpeted with old Beech leaves and a few green shoots just starting to appear; early woodland plants taking advantage of the shelter, though it means less light, and must yet be hardy enough to survive the snow which could fall any day now. But at this time the sunlight glints through a bare tracery, and the established moss enveloping old-fallen trees and rotting branches glows with a fresh vitality and a virulent-green luminosity that will not be seen by leaf-shaded summer sun. I hear an unseen Jackdaw calling from very close, but no other Corvids. A couple of Pigeon take wing noisily away from me. Onward, under the rookery-trees proper. Mostly the nests are in several Beech trees, but a few nests are in an Oak. No sign of any Rooks. Too early in the year to expect them to be in fulltime possession: they are absent landlords. Maybe they visit occasionally to poke around, but will not stay long. Heh, maybe they sent that Jackdaw to check it out for them instead. (:>) Few birds of any kind, but I note one unexpected tenant: a Grey Squirrel, perhaps alarmed at my interest in the trees above me, scampers along a branch and into a Rook's nest. Thinking it perhaps just a chance pause in the general scamper-stop-scamper routine, I keep still and watch for a good five minutes, but the Squirrel evidently thinks the nest a good place to stay. Some old nests have fallen to the ground under another tree closer to the edge of the wood. Saw one near here before, but that one was completely broken up. These two afford better opportunity for examination. One of these two is mostly intact and the right way up, though covered over in leaves and fallen twig-debris. I carefully remove what is obviously the material fallen on top, though there are a few bits and pieces that are not easy to say whether part of the nest or not. I reckon the nest has been fallen at least a month, so it is all decaying into a soggy mess. The outer structure is of rough sticks, and this still forms a cohesive unit even after the plunge through branches and impact with the ground. Probably flatter than when new-made, but still protecting the next layer, which seems to have retained its deep cup-shape; carefully-graded and woven thin twigs, long and flexible with waxy red bark. Finally, the inner sanctum. Surprisingly dry and light; a mass of fibrous material, looks like could be mostly dried grass as a fine hay, yet with a silvery, pearlescent appearance. I am scraping at it with a twig: it is slightly sticky, and quite hard to disentangle, pull apart. Very soft though. Not muddy at all, and if I prod, moisture beads slightly on the surface. It has water-repellent and wicking qualities that remind me of some modern fabrics used for outdoor wear and adventure sports. Intriguing. Such fabrics are designed to be free-draining and warm while still damp. I have a caving undersuit that can take a full-immersion soaking, yet feels cosy and only slightly damp within minutes of getting out of icy water. Looking closely, I think that a lot of spider-webs have been mixed into this nest-lining. There are quite a few little insects, hopping like sand-fleas as I dig into the material. Not sure whether they are recent opportunists that have found the nest on the ground, or nest-parasites that fell with it. I suspect the latter, as I have seen a Housemartin's nest crawling with them, and that was examined within twelve hours of falling. (Regrettably killing the chicks it contained.) I also find a few fragments of eggshell. Presumably the hatchlings from these fledged and left the nest some eight months ago, so this nest has served its purpose with quite a good margin of reliability. The nest is old and mildewy from lying on the ground, but I suspect it would be much drier if it was still in the tree with proper drainage and air-circulation. But even crushed and broken on the sodden leafmould, it exhibits some very clever features. The other nest has fallen partly on one side, but I find much the same details in that. I have also found the remains of two dead birds in the wood, probably Pigeon. Not much left, just a scattering of feathers. Not sure what caught them or how, but appear to have been eaten on the spot. Time to go back to workplace. Retrace my steps to car, and see Rooks and Jackdaws milling about in the field over the main road. I wonder if one of them hatched from the bits of eggshell I was just looking at. Give them a few greeting-caws while I am still unseen behind hedge. A Jackdaw comes over straightaway, makes a few cheows while circling once around me, and returns to the field. They all continue feeding. ============ Tue 26th Jan 1999: 9am. A bright morning, and only slight wind. Six Carrion Crows sat boldly in a row on top of a large motorway sign. A little later, watch a single Magpie landing on another large sign, but it chooses the top of a supporting post which ends a few inches below the top. That way, it can peer over the top, just eyes and beak showing over the edge. Crafty! ============ Mon 25th Jan 1999: 8:30am, still in the house, getting up and making coffee etc. Hear caws from the front, look out onto the street to see a large Crow clinging to a TV aerial on the house opposite. Ech, but it's windy out there! Windows are not simply rattling, they are making that low booming noise of the glass itself vibrating, and I can see parked cars outside rocking and bouncing on their suspension. The Crow is holding on grimly with both feet, head into the blast, cawing with gusto. Stops every now and then to turn head and look around. It has to turn its tail to keep balance: equalise the turning-moment of wind-pressure against the side of head. The thin metal aerial is whipping and twisting about, but the Crow seems confident enough of riding it. It occurs to me that the urban Corvids are as familiar with these convenient rooftop perches as the rural birds are used to the twigs on treetops. If there is another bird making reply, I think it is downwind, and I cannot hear it indoors. But the Crow evidently wishes to go in that direction, for it half-opens wings at a steep angle, and just at the centre of the aerial's whipping-arc, lets go of its hold. Crow is flung almost vertically upward, and makes a few lazy wingflaps to stabilise itself. But the wind is carrying it backwards, relative to the ground. I see that this is intentional, and the bird is gaining height... before it passes just a few feet above the tall tree at the end of the street. Still going backward, but now it flaps strongly to get the groundspeed to zero, and descends slowly and gracefully onto the tree, adjusting position carefully until a branch is hooked under one foot, then both. Wings half-closed for a moment, shuffling of feet for good grip, then a neat folding of wings and flick of tail to balance. A perfect manoeuvre in difficult conditions. Later, driving up A3, conditions are still rough. Small cars in front are wobbling and swerving unexpectedly between lanes, and I can only pass with a wide berth and a careful eye on them. Surprised to see a couple of Magpies battling through the gusts, but they are making good headway. Having to work hard at it, wings thrashing with determination. Onto the B3006, nearly into Alton, and see many Rooks. Some are groundfeeding in the usual places, but I note that they try to keep their heads into the wind. A lot more are wheeling and diving around the sky. As casually confident as ever, but I note a lot more wings flapping harder than usual. Some are flying into the teeth of the gale, with bent wings back-swept and pumping hard. Making a rapid progress too, but clearly expending a lot of energy to do so. I'd estimate the windspeed to be around 60mph average, and gusting more than that. Midmorning, in carpark buying food from sandwich-lady, and a Crow streaks overhead. A lot of cawing from several unseen birds in trees obscured behind the largest building. Sounded more like Crow than Rook, but quite a few of them. Haven't had any obvious Crows taking food from my usual shed-roof place for ages now. I suspect the local cat is there too often. I've been jamming food-offerings in thickest part of winter-bare hedges now too. One I can see from my own window. Mid-afternoon, glance out to see a male Blackbird heartily tucking in to the half a cheese & onion roll there. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk03] Fri 22nd Jan 1999: Hard frost overnight, and dense fog nearly all day. Saw only a few Magpies on roadkill. Couldn't see any Rooks within sight of the roads. Ground too hard-frozen in the open fields for them? But didn't see any even on their usual trees that I drive right under. Anything beyond that was obscured by the fog though. ============ Thu 21st Jan 1999: 9:30am. Bright sunny morning, but misty. Not many Rooks in the fields or usual trees. 12:30. Was just stepping outside our front office door, and saw a Hawk, sat boldly on a car roof some seven paces away from me. I froze and stepped back quietly. Watched in amazement for about one minute (though it was probably much less in reality) through the plate-glass door, with all the bustle of offices and ringing phones in Reception area behind me. Went to tell the man whose car it was perching on, but by the time we looked out of his overlooking office, it was gone. I should have waited until it had flown then, for I never saw its tail or wing-outline. Drat! It was slightly smaller than a Pigeon, say 12-inches, short but wickedly hooked bill of light buff colour. Bright yellow eyes, flashing as it peered around the carpark hedges. (Ahem, I'd put a few snacky-things for little birds in that hedge about an hour before: hoping I've not lured one of my shy hedge-creatures to an early death!) The raptor- bird was mid-brown, slightly reddish tinge, speckled with darker brown and black. Only a front view, though it turned its head around quite a bit. What could it be? Sparrowhawk, my first guess from behaviour, but possibly a female Kestrel from colouring? Have seen both around here, but never so close! Paradoxical perhaps, but seeing them wind- hovering in distance, or hedge-hopping like a little jet-fighter in pursuit of a smaller bird, always made the ID for me.(:>) 4:20-4:35pm Was a lovely sunny afternoon, with the light lasting. So the Rooks and Jackdaws stayed out a bit later. Returning in unhurried fashion over a long period. Cruising casually, with just occasional calls. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk02] Mon 11th Jan 1999: 9:00am. Sunny but with a light frost this morning. Greatham area, two Magpies flew across in front with a big black Carrion Crow right behind. Perhaps chasing, or at least escorting off the premises? I have heard that this is the expected meaning, but am unconvinced: they were certainly flying in close pursuit, but no bird was going flat-out in speed. The 'pies flared out over the hedge and turned right, with the Crow circling round to the left. Looked more like a game to me, a bit of casual tomfoolery. A hundred yards further on I pass a large tree, many Rooks perched. In field right on corner of old A325/B3006, now a slightly changed road layout. I remember Rooks in that tree last year, but they seemed to have departed while all the roadworks were making so much noise and smoke. Looks peaceful again now. Wish I'd stopped for a photo, as the light was so good. Selborne, and a few Rooks and Jackdaws going about their business, with just a few on the main road rookery trees. Very few birds groundfeeding between there and Alton today, though the ground does not look at all frosted. A339 xroads rookery has quite a few birds roosting, look like still asleep. None to be seen at Nancole Copse. Then, strange coincidence, another two Magpies and a single Carrion Crow by Lasham airfield. These three birds seem to be happily sharing some roadkill, and only rise at my approach to duck over the hedge together. I'd have to see them for longer to see if there was any kind of pecking order, or resentment between the species. But it looked like they were too busy eating to argue. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [99wk01] Sun 10th Jan 1999: Late afternoon, shopping with friend again at the same out-of-town place as NYE. I think it is called "Burfields" or somesuch, being off Burfield Rd, Portsmouth. So feeding Magpies with bits of beefburger and hotdog again. Much busier today, and the 'pies seem reluctant to sit about in carpark trees; most have decamped to the roof of a Sunday-quiet industrial unit over a road. But a few fly over, and as the shops close at 4pm, I tempt a little group of three down. It is quite amusing. They are wily, still shy of the departing crowds, but can smell and see the food. I ostentatiously drop a few bits around in the open, but they won't come down until we go and sit in the van. One comes down for a snatch, bill-takes the largest piece of meat. Seems to barely touch the ground, certainly does not stop moving. Takes into tree right above vehicle to eat. The other two birds are in the next tree, right over the rest of the bait, but still seem too nervous to go down. First bird wipes beak heartily on branch, and goes down for more. Well, this more than second bird can bear to see, and it also goes down in attempt to snatch, but bird #1 is not accepting this, and crashes hard into #2, displacing it before can grab. A moment of whirling wings, and #1 is away with the last piece of meat. While this altercation is going on, bird #3, who seems smaller and younger, quietly flits in to take the piece of bread. #2 is left standing alone on ground, with no meat and not even bread for consolation prize. It looks miffed. Also there are two humans in vehicle within a few paces, trying not to laugh. Nothing to stay for then. Takes two-footed bounding hops, and on the third, bounces into the air and flaps wings vigorously. Ah, so that is how Magpies get airborne from a flat takeoff! It seems more difficult for them than for other corvids that simply jump and fly in one easy movement. Perhaps the 'pies long tails hamper them? ============ Thu 7th Jan 1999: Duller in morning, has been raining. Hardly any Rooks flying around, though did see some in fields. Plenty of Magpies though. Several pairs in hedges beside roads, and saw one sat on a fencepost; the post each side was occupied by a Rook, with all three birds sat in a line facing the road and contentedly preening. The field behind them had about fifty Rooks groundfeeding, and I saw another Magpie flitting over hedges on the other side of the road. This was on the A339 just coming out of Alton. Later, same road but passing Lasham, saw about a dozen Magpies flying fast in a group, high and gliding with wings outstretched when not beating them. Passing Nancole Copse minutes later, and there are about fifty Rooks perched quietly in the treetops. ============ Wed 6th Jan 1999: 10:00am. A lovely sunny drive up the motorway, many Rooks wheeling about overhead, and many more groundfeeding. A few Magpies furtively flitting from roadkills ahead, or standing in proud display of plumage on treetops. 3:25pm. The usual mixed flock of dark corvids passing overhead, seem quite early as the light is still bright and clear. And indeed, the birds seem in no particular hurry today. A ragged roosting-flight then, with many birds turning aside to dip and weave lower over the fields just skimming over our rooftop. I hear the musical, bell-like cheows of the Jackdaws, and the hoarser caers of the Rooks. ============ Mon 4th Jan 1999: Back to Herriard today. A blustery morn, radio news mentioned property-damage and some fatalities overnight. Many Rooks soaring around from Horndean to Butser Hill area; no large groups, mostly pairs or individual birds. Some small groups, maybe up to a dozen birds, but flying much further apart than usual. All struggling if flying against the wind, and generally being tossed and turned about by the weather conditions. But looking determined and undeterred about it. Many birds groundfeeding in fields along Selborne road. 3:30pm. The sky has mostly cleared by now, and winds dropped to a gentle breeze. The usual crowd of Rooks and Jackdaws coming over fairly early. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ D:\PERSONAL\ROOK99Q1.DOC 19/04/99 20:41