Thursday 29 October 2009 - Ravens at Alvecote Pools SSSI - 29/10/2009

Thursday 29th October 2009

Ravens at Alvecote Pools

An early morning visit to the patch produced a site record count of my personal favourite species of all time - Common Raven.  Initially a single bird flew over Gilman's Pool 'cronking' away loudly heading in a south-easterly direction.  Just 32 minutes later a pair of Ravens flew over Mill Pool from the same direction giving a quieter call as they went.  These two birds headed strongly in a north-westerly direction.  Less than a minute later another pair flew over Mill Pool following the original pair.  Ravens are a passion of mine and from reading all of my hero Bernd Heinrich's fantastic books I know that an individial Raven will often advertise a food source to other Ravens and collect recruits, especially if they consider the food source to be located in a risky location.  Obviously I cannot be sure that this is what happened today but nevertheless I was thrilled with the sighting.

"Hey Gull, see that worm down there?"  "Yeah Egret what about it?"  "Can you pass it me please, I don't wanna get my other leg out?" 

Little Egret & Black-headed Gull at Alvecote Pools, Staffordshire - October 2009 

Other species on site included the female Red-crested Pochard on Mill Pool along with a calling Water Rail.  Over on Upper Pool a Little Egret was present along with 66 Eurasian Wigeon, 54 Common Teal, another Water Rail (showing briefly) and 3 Common Snipe.  Another Little Egret (photo) was also resting on the spit at Pretty Pigs Pool where there was an impressive count of 94 Mute Swans.

Thursday 5 November 2009 - Ravens