RAVEN
While waiting for peregrine falcons under Tibbets Point, I have often been entertained by the acrobatics of ravens.
They flip over onto their backs and tumble over each other as they fall until swooping back up again to repeat the performance.
It is the world's largest crow, the size of a large buzzard, with a 1300mm wing span of long fingered wings. In flight its diamond shaped tail is a help in identification and if you can get close you will see its large head and thick beak.
They nest all around the coast on inaccessible cliffs, using the same nest for many years. Ravens will eat anything, but they especially like carrion and so if seen landing, are a good indication that something has died.
They will take young lambs at lambing time, they have a special fondness for the lambs eyes! Just to please the Farmer some more, they like to peck holes in his freshly wrapped round hay bales, see photo.
You can see ravens all through the year, but young ravens fly to the mainland once strong enough, leaving the adults behind. A walk along any part of the coast will reward you with sightings of ravens.
