Carrion Crow - Corvus corone
Canon 600mm f4 for 1/500th @ iso400
At least two pairs of Carrion Crows wander about the road, at certain times of year both pairs work either side of the pond collecting swan mussels which have come into the shallows. If the crows are unable to smash open the mussels with their beaks on the edge of the pond, they hop across the grass verges and use the kerbstones to get at the tasty morsels inside of the shells.
Last year a pair of Ravens showed up quite regularly - dwarfing the crows in size, during their appearances the crows tended to make themselves scarce.
The Ravens had attempted to nest on a mobile phone antenna on the golf course, but have been conspicuous by their absence this year, although they can be heard calling occasionally when they fly overhead.
At least two pairs of Carrion Crows wander about the road, at certain times of year both pairs work either side of the pond collecting swan mussels which have come into the shallows. If the crows are unable to smash open the mussels with their beaks on the edge of the pond, they hop across the grass verges and use the kerbstones to get at the tasty morsels inside of the shells.
Last year a pair of Ravens showed up quite regularly - dwarfing the crows in size, during their appearances the crows tended to make themselves scarce.
The Ravens had attempted to nest on a mobile phone antenna on the golf course, but have been conspicuous by their absence this year, although they can be heard calling occasionally when they fly overhead.