This weekend I visited my dad in Hastings. On Monday morning at 7am I was standing out in his back yard overlooking the Old Town, wondering whether to go for a walk on the beach or head up towards the cliffs, when there was a great whooshing of wings and a Raven flew very low right over the house, with two Carrion Crows in hot pursuit. I decided to stay where I was!
They came past several times and put on an amazing show, chasing, diving, tumbling and soaring, with accompanying caws and croaks. I didn't manage to catch the Raven with both crows but most of the time they were in a threesome, and my impression was that they were playing as sometimes it was the Raven diving at a crow, sometimes the other way round. They were still at it when the sun went in at about 11am.
A couple of pics of the Raven on its own, when it came VERY close overhead:
Also noticed this little one bringing nesting material into a hole in my dad's wall behind the satellite dish :)
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Brilliant photos Aiki love the third one.
Regards Alan
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Great sequence of photos, aiki. When I first looked at them I assumed it was the crows chasing the ravens away as potential predators. From what you say, however, it does sound as though they were playing. Many of the corvids seem to enjoy this behaviour. I've often watched jackdaws doing what I would call frolicking in the sky and crows joining in.
Nice to have both species in the same frame. It shows up the size difference really well.
Regards TJ
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A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (Chinese proverb)
Interesting behaviour, and nicely captured.
Take care all, Stich.
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All great shots Aiki No3 is a cracker
Ray
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Just goes to show we only need to step outside our back door sometimes to enjoy the birds. Little bluey is gorgeous.
It does sound like they were playing, like children pretending to be planes.
No. 3 is a cracker, but I like No. 5 best as it shows the difference in size so well.
Cheers, Linda.
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Thanks everyone :) Last time I was in Hastings I walked along the cliffs and saw the same thing, but much more distantly. Definitely better from the back yard!
Corvids are probably one of the most intelligent of birds and play behaviour has been witnessed many times before. Great to see it in such close proximity and some nice shots. I saw a progam on TV which showed Ravens sliding down hills in the snow just for fun and also, most amusingly riding wild boar!
Great action shots. Well done.
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Like everyone else I have theories and opinions on lots of things I know b*gger all about.
Wow, marvelous shots Aiki, great to see the activity and the especially the interaction. Photo's to treasure these are. Both species are superb birds.
Nice to see the excellent photo of the Bluetit, good place behind your Dads satellite dish, safe at least lol ! :-)
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Aiki They are all great. but like doggie my fav is this one
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Fantastic photos, aiki! You really were in the right place at the right time! Looks as if they're really enjoying themselves.
The difference in size shows up well.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
Wow! Absolutely stunning set but agree that the 3rd is a STONKER!
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Thanks again, everyone! It was thrilling to watch. Couldn't persuade my dad to step outside and have a look though, I definitely didn't get the birding gene from him.
What a great set of photos and thank you for answering my un-posted question, you must be psychic :) I wanted a photo comparison of raven to carrion crow as I have difficult with them in flight and throw 'Daws in and I am really stumped.
Caroline in Jersey