From the outset, I thought today would be a great day to find a Raven on the patch. This wonderful Corvid is now being seen with increasing frequency in Norfolk and indeed, I saw a pair at Great Cressingham last year.
I initially wanted to check on Bramblings, and saw many within a mixed flock of 500+ Finches and Buntings. It whilst watching the Finches that I heard a distant Raven calling, soon it appeared in view flying over fields, I had an idea where it was heading and relocated myself to that given location.
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| Brambling 13th November |
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| Brambling 13th November |
Having relocated myself I almost immediately saw the Raven alight in a tall Scots Pine, later, it flew closer and alighted in an isolated tree close to a Carrion Crow, here I was able to appreciate the size difference between these Crows. A single Mistle Thrush investigated the Raven and looked decidedly small in comparison.
The main features of the Raven was clearly its very large size, its call, the enormous bill, and in flight the tapered tail, often referred to being diamond shaped.
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| Raven Little Cressingham, Norfolk, 13th November |
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| Raven 13th November |
The above two shots shows a classic identification feature of an in-flight Raven. With this alighting bird, note the strongly tapered tail giving a wedged shape.
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| Raven 13th November. Note the heavy, powerful bill |
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