Time with the Ravens

Another early start today and another walk around the reservoir. I like the early starts for several reasons, one I'm a poor sleeper and always have been, two it allows me to get back in time to sort Suzannes breakfast etc and three it's just great being out as the day starts to go about it's business. The birds are in full song as the sun rises and the light itself on a good day is nice too and of course there's less people about.

This morning I was on the reservoir around 5.30am, it was cold and pretty quiet. I set about counting what I saw and heard as I walked down to the causeway. I checked that yesterdays Badger hadn't got stuck again and with no sign I carried on down to the magic corner and around to the sluice. I could see Ravens on the bank as I approached and crept closer and closer until I had to stop when they started to be aware of my approach. They settled down again and allowed me to take a few pictures. I've seen four birds regularly and assumed it was two young and two adults but today there was four birds but three appear to be young fledglings, displaying that red gape I associate with the young birds so perhaps If I get lucky and find both parents with the three young I'll be able to make a new high count of five. I do enjoy watching them on my visits and they help justify the long walk out to the north west corner which is about 2miles from the car park. I counted 54 species again today with the best birds being the Raven, a drake Wigeon and an Oystercatcher. Lot's of Swifts and hirundines about again, Swan numbers are building as are the Starling now the young are appearing. The Great crested Grebes remain, some are still displaying but it just seems strange to see them loafing about on the reservoir with no interest in moving to breeding habitat.