• ABOUT
  • BIRDING 2018
  • Birding 2019
  • BLOG POSTS
  • Butterflies 2018
  • Resources

earthstar

~ a celebration of nature

earthstar

Tag Archives: Carrion crow

Crow junior

11 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by sconzani in birds

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

birding, birdwatching, British birds, Carrion crow, juvenile crow

Without a long lens, I haven’t been able to get close to any of the juvenile birds that are currently cheeping at and following around their frazzled parents in leafy trees and hedgerows. Luckily, though, this juvenile Carrion crow was a little more obliging … or perhaps simply more curious.

220611 crow

Like this:

Like Loading...

A crow companion

17 Tuesday May 2022

Posted by sconzani in birds, flowers, wildflowers

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bird’s-foot trefoil, birdwatching, British birds, Carrion crow

I had company as I walked very slowly along the west paddock paths at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park yesterday. This Carrion crow is one of a pair that frequents the area and, as they are fed almost daily by a local visitor, they’ve become quite used to quiet humans. I confess I have given them seed from time to time and I’m sure crows are smart enough to recognise individual people, so it may also have been hoping for a treat from me. No such luck, but it seemed to be finding plenty of tasty morsels amongst the glorious Bird’s-foot trefoil as we walked along together.

220517 crow

Like this:

Like Loading...

At the crow’s nest

02 Saturday Apr 2022

Posted by sconzani in birds

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

bidwatching, birding, birdwatching, Carrion crow, crow's nest, odd things in crows' nests

Spot the latest in Crow nest accessories …
So when you get home from a hard day’s crowing, you can hang up your feathers before snuggling in for the night.

220402 crows nest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Crow kids

20 Thursday May 2021

Posted by sconzani in birds, spring

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

birding, birdwatching, British birds, Carrion crow, juvenile crow, nesting birds

These three juvenile Carrion crows were keeping incredibly quiet – in fact, two were mostly snoozing – so it was just good luck that I happened to look up into their tree and spot them.

210520 juvenile crows (1)

Their parents were in a neighbouring area of wasteland, foraging for food – a full-time job with three hungry beaks to fill. The juveniles look close to fledging so I’m picking they’ll have moved out by the time I next walk this way.

210520 juvenile crows (2)

Like this:

Like Loading...

162/366 Jackdaw family update

10 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

birding, birdwatching, British birds, Carrion crow, jackdaw, juvenile Jackdaw

Though I’m someone who prides myself on my observation skills, I have to admit I’ve failed dismally with my local Jackdaw family. Do you remember I posted back at the end of March about their courtship and nest building (Dawdling, 30 March)? After that, I regularly checked their nesting spot and would see them popping in and out of the chimney pot but I never noticed any signs of them feeding chicks. Yet, a chick has now fledged, though it still seems a bit dazed by the world outside its nest.

200610 jackdaw family (1)
200610 jackdaw family (2)

A couple of days ago it was sitting on a window ledge of the church hall opposite my house. It sat there for ages, despite the adults trying to coax it down on to the roof below.

200610 jackdaw family (3)

Then I heard an almighty ruckus. It seemed like the entire local population of Jackdaws had descended on the hall roof, and they were all jabbering at once. Turns out a Crow had noticed the juvenile Jackdaw and was trying to get close to it, perhaps thinking it would make an easy meal.

200610 jackdaw family (4)

The young Jackdaw panicked and flew on to the hall roof but one of its parents immediately flew up next to it, and all the others started dive-bombing the Crow, which eventually gave up and flew off. Hopefully, the young Jackdaw has learnt a valuable life lesson and will stay out of harm’s way in future.

Like this:

Like Loading...

6/366 Crow vs Raven

06 Monday Jan 2020

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

birding, birdwatching, British birds, Carrion crow, Raven, starling, urban birds

You’d think in a contest between a Crow and a Raven, the Raven would win hands down every time. After all, it’s Britain’s biggest corvid, a hulking beast of a bird. And I’m sure if this had been a real contest, the Raven would have won – but it was not.

200106 raven (1)

As you can see, the Raven was sitting on a rooftop aerial, on a house in a lane not far from my house, not somewhere I’ve seen one before. The Crow had taken exception to the Raven being in its territory, so was harassing it repeatedly. The Raven ignored the Crow for a while but then, I think, simple got fed up, and flew off.

200106 raven (2)

The Starlings were spectators, watching with interest from a neighbouring aerial. It was a charming little interlude on my daily walk.

200106 starlings

Like this:

Like Loading...

162/365 Waiting for Lindsay

11 Tuesday Jun 2019

Posted by sconzani in 365DaysWildin2019, birds, nature

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

#365DaysWild, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Carrion crow, crows in the rain

190611 crow in the rain (2)

There’s a man I’ve got to know during my wanders around the local country park, Lindsay, who feeds the birds on a (I think) daily basis. But it’s not the small birds – the robins, the tits, the finches – that he feeds; it’s the crows. He walks the same route, and the birds know it, and what time to expect him. These two crows, sitting on fence posts in the light rain, appear to be wondering where he is, scrutinising each passing human to see if it’s him, wondering if he will still come in the rain. Don’t worry, crows, I do believe he will!

190611 crow in the rain (1)

Like this:

Like Loading...

A walk along the Taff

10 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by sconzani in autumn, birds, nature, parks, trees, walks, wildflowers

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bute Park, Carrion crow, Goosander, Green alkanet, Grey heron, Grey wagtail, Mallard, Mute swan, River Taff, riverside walk, Speckled wood, woodland trail

On Friday, after I’d paid a visit to the tree I’m following, I enjoyed a stroll along the trail in Cardiff’s Bute Park that meanders through mature woodland alongside the River Taff. Despite this summer’s drought conditions, the recent rains have revived the local trees and plants so everything was looking wonderfully lush and vibrant.

180910 Walk by the Taff (1)

A female Goosander sailing down river was a pleasant sight. Both males and females can often be seen on this part of the Taff from autumn through to spring.

180910 Walk by the Taff (2)

Near the far river bank, a Grey heron stood tall on one of the many exposed rocks and boulders. The river is quite low at the moment.

180910 Walk by the Taff (3)

There weren’t a lot of signs of autumn yet – only the leaves of the Horse chestnuts were yellowing and curling up and beginning to drop.

180910 Walk by the Taff (4)

A Speckled wood was well camouflaged on the woodland floor. There weren’t many butterflies around, just half a dozen Speckled woods and a few Small whites.

180910 Walk by the Taff (5)

A Mallard enjoyed a snooze near the river’s edge.

180910 Walk by the Taff (6)

I liked the colours and patterns of the pebbles and the occasionally blue sky reflected in the river water.

180910 Walk by the Taff (7)

This was one of two Mute swans feeding.

180910 Walk by the Taff (8)

I’ve seen this particular Carrion crow many times before when I’ve walked this way. I know it’s the same crow, not because of how it looks but because it has virtually no voice. It tries to croak but hardly any sound comes out.

180910 Walk by the Taff (9)

Most of the wildflowers have finished flowering but this Green alkanet was a pretty exception.

180910 Walk by the Taff (10)

Just a few hints of autumn showing here. I love how this path meanders through these magnificent trees.

180910 Walk by the Taff (11)

The woodland trail finishes just below Blackweir, where the current low water level means many rocks and boulders have been exposed. This was the perfect spot for a group of perhaps 20 Grey wagtails to fly-catch, and watching their aerial antics was the perfect end to my wander alongside the Taff.

180910 Walk by the Taff (12)

Like this:

Like Loading...

In a Pengam garden

05 Thursday Jul 2018

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

birding, birdwatching, blackbird, British birds, bullfinch, Carrion crow, Collared dove, garden birds, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Woodpigeon

My friend Sharon has a lovely garden: an area of lawn bordered by flowers, shrubs and hedge; a separate area for growing vegies, the glasshouse and the beehives; and a lovely little bit of wild woodland at the end. It’s a paradise for birds, particularly because Sharon also has lots of feeders that she keeps stocked up with seeds of various kinds and suet blocks. As a person who lives in a first-floor flat with no garden, I just love visiting Sharon’s garden. I could sit watching the birds all day long.

180705 1 Pengam garden birds

My photos show just a few of the birds that entertained us yesterday – and these 14 species are not the only birds that visit: House sparrow, Blue tit, Great tit, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Carrion crow, Great spotted woodpecker, Magpie, Robin, Dunnock, and Blackbird.

180705 2 Great spotted woodpecker

The Great spotted woodpeckers have been bringing their offspring to the garden this year

180705 3 Woodpigeon and Carrion crow

The Woodpigeon doesn’t look too happy about the Carrion crow being so close

180705 4 Blackbird

A Blackbird with an odd beak

180705 5 Goldfinches and Bullfinch

‘This is ours’, squawked the Goldfinch to the Bullfinch, but …

180705 6 Bullfinch

… the Bullfinch won out on the day!

180705 7 Collared dove

A beautiful Collared dove

Like this:

Like Loading...

Ely embankment revisited

15 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by sconzani in birds, flowers, nature, walks, wildflowers

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#30DaysWild, 30 Days Wild, Cardiff Bay, Carrion crow, Coot, Ely embankment, feral pigeon, Linnet, Mallard, Mute swan, Pied wagtail, River Ely, Small tortoiseshell

My regular followers will remember that, over the winter months, when there were more birds around, I posted a regular monthly roundup of the action along the embankment where the River Ely flows in to Cardiff Bay. Today, for day 15 of #30DaysWild, I thought I’d take another look. Here’s what I found …

180615 1 Ely embankment

The embankment is a riot of colour, with both native wildflowers and garden escapees in full bloom.

180615 2 linnet

Two Linnets were foraging on flower seeds but were very skittish.

180615 3 wildflowers

Loving these Oxeye daisies.

180615 4 pied wagtail

A juvenile Pied wagtail was feeding near the waterline.

180615 5 feral pigeons

A flock of 7 Feral pigeons was also foraging amongst the flowers

180615 6 mallard

This Mallard had found a sunny spot for a snooze.

180615 7 mute swan

23 Mute swans were floating up the river, many taking the opportunity to preen as they went.

180615 8 coots

9 Coots were congregating at the water’s edge.

180615 9 small tortoiseshell

I saw my first Small tortoiseshell butterfly of the year.

180615 10 colourful embankment

Looking back up the river as an Aquabus shows sightseers the river. The black hulk is a new apartment block.

180615 11 carrion crow

And finally, a Carrion crow was prospecting for tasty morsels.

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

View Full Profile →

Follow earthstar on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent blog posts

  • Wild word: sessile August 7, 2022
  • Cygnets August 6, 2022
  • Humongous fungus August 5, 2022
  • Parasitic wasps on Teasel August 4, 2022
  • A hawking migrant August 3, 2022

From the archives

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

COPYRIGHT

Unless otherwise acknowledged, the text and photographs on this blog are my own and are subject to international copyright. Nothing may be downloaded or copied without my permission.

Click on the category

'Dedicated Naturalist' Project 365DaysWildin2019 amphibian animals autumn birds coastal fauna flowers fungi geology insects ladybird leaves lichen mammal molluscs nature nature photography parks plants reptiles seaside seasons spiders spring trees walks weather wildflowers winter

Fellow Earth Stars!

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • earthstar
    • Join 568 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • earthstar
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: