The cawing of rooks and chack-chacking of jackdaws in the grounds of St. Bride’s Castle was deafening. Day after day and no break from the din as the birds whisked round gathering nesting material or scouting out new nesting spots. The jackdaws seemed to have their sights on the castle turrets, while the rooks had commandeered the nearby ash wood where they were busy composing the usual twiggy mounds up in the treetops. So much commotion and it said one thing: SPRING!
In which Six Go Potty In Pembroke With Cockapoo Puppy – holiday snaps #9
Tish Farrell 
Are jackdaws the equivalent of the American raven?
No, they’re raven, rook and crow relatives, but slightly smaller than all three 🙂
Fascinating. I will have to look into this more.
Lots of crows and jackdaws here – noisy things. I prefer the jackdaws call.
The rooks in the rookery behind our house chatter all night too.
😦
Thank goodness Spring has arrived at last
Well, after writing this post, and then trotting into town, I did begin to think I might have spoken too soon. Air temp is more like December. On the other hand, the daffodils are blooming come what may.
thank goodness plant life keeps on keeping on
lovely monotones to match the corvid cubes – especially fond of these intelligent birds – some rookeries are hundreds of years old – wonder about your rook neighbours?!
p.s. have you read Crow Country by Mark Cocker?
I will look out for the book, Laura. Thank you. I’m sure some of Wenlock’s rookeries are very old. There’s a lovely late 19th century description of the one near the Priory. Must look it out too.
Nature always knows but we do have to wonder this year why things are so crazy with the weather.
El Nino effects in some quarters; Jet Stream slippage in others; global warming – all conspiring to confuse our seasons.
I was awake at silly o’clock this morning and somebody was twittering very happily. I don’t know how happy they would have been at 1 this afternoon with the prolonged hailstones. 🙂 🙂 It’s definitely Spring!
Spring is certainly happening – come sleet and freezingness. It’s just some of us humans who are whingeing.
Not me! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I can hear birds twittering in the forsythia which is huge so I hope they are ok when nesting.We did have a better day but still chilly.I like the name ” jackdaw” it sounds like it was made up by a real person yet in a story book.This weather was quite normal up North./We took our winter coats on our summer holidays in Rhyl or similar places!
You are right about the weather this time of year. We’ve just become too used to mild winters and springs and forgotten what they used to be like. Also made me remember that mother had a big Aran cardigan knitted specially to take on summer holidays. She wore it too!
Love jackdaws, but must admit I am glad I don’t have them resident near me. Likewise with crows and ravens. All have such wonderful personalities, but oh the noise!!!
They definitely make very noisy neighbours, but I wouldn’t mind having more to do with ravens.
I can’t remember if you are on twitter or not. If you are do you follow the Raven Master at The Tower of London? Just wonderful.
I’m vaguely on Twitter, Becky. But that sounds like a tempting reason to pay it more attention. Many thanks for the Raven master 🙂
He’s @ravenmaster1 – one of the best things on twitter 🙂
Cheers, Becky 🙂
beautiful picture and post. spring is the season of deliberation… bits of winter going head to head with summer. we can’t count on the weather but we can enjoy it… and the birds and the flowers that come with it.
Thank you, Shimon. You are right. There is much around to give us enjoyment. Though we often need to remind ourselves to look.
Wonderful images; particularly the header shot. The meeting of nature and technology
Many thanks, Su.
Lovely silhouette!
Didn’t they pose nicely 🙂
Yes, spring! Thank you for the striking photos.