Rooks are brilliant. A huge and wonderfully noisy flock of them passes over my house east to west every morning, though I’ve never managed to catch them returning in the evening!
I love rooks. We had them above a neighbouring vicarage when I was a kid. Learnt to love them then. They are interesting birds, full of personality- though not the most attractive to look at! I have a rookery now behind my caravan near Kendal, also in tall sycamores. It's rowdy from dawn til dusk all spring and summer, but I love it. You get used to the noise. I especially love it when they return en masse from the fields at dusk and discuss their day! I sit on my decking with a glass of wine to enjoy the spectacle. I also enjoy how they throw themselves into the wind like black rags- you can tell that they are having a great time. Been watching them repairing their nests this afternoon. I can watch them easily from my window. I am blessed. Great article. Thank you.
They really seem to exalt in flying on windy days, don’t they?! My window looks out over a large ash tree where they congregate at sunrise on winter mornings, along with jackdaws. Sometimes they all take to the air, for no apparent reason, and the whole flock goes on a wild , raucus flight before settling again. After a few performances like this they gradually disperse to feed. It’s a joy to watch.
The Rooks & Crows are returning in numbers to the garden. I love to watch and listen to their varied vocalisations. When the young arrive it's raucous but we must endure it for a while😊
Fabulous writing and photos. I only know rooks proper from working at HM Tower of London, years ago. I've met plenty of crows and bright eye jackdaws though...
A great read Phil. We were always told as kids that if the rooks build their nest really high in the spring the weather would be mostly calm but if they built them lower down it would be windy.
Fabulous post. I love all the corvids - interesting behaviour, strong physical features. Do you know Mark Cocker's book 'Crow Country"?. It's beautifully written and full of insights into corvid behaviour.
Cheers Phil a reminder of a forgotten past, and a shame that Rookeries are pushed further out into the countryside through urbanisation I never thought about that until now. Something every child should experience growing up is the joy and sounds of a local rookery. I must check on the one closet to me at Wentworth Garden Centre to see if it is still there, I will let you know if it is.
Rooks are brilliant. A huge and wonderfully noisy flock of them passes over my house east to west every morning, though I’ve never managed to catch them returning in the evening!
I love rooks. We had them above a neighbouring vicarage when I was a kid. Learnt to love them then. They are interesting birds, full of personality- though not the most attractive to look at! I have a rookery now behind my caravan near Kendal, also in tall sycamores. It's rowdy from dawn til dusk all spring and summer, but I love it. You get used to the noise. I especially love it when they return en masse from the fields at dusk and discuss their day! I sit on my decking with a glass of wine to enjoy the spectacle. I also enjoy how they throw themselves into the wind like black rags- you can tell that they are having a great time. Been watching them repairing their nests this afternoon. I can watch them easily from my window. I am blessed. Great article. Thank you.
They really seem to exalt in flying on windy days, don’t they?! My window looks out over a large ash tree where they congregate at sunrise on winter mornings, along with jackdaws. Sometimes they all take to the air, for no apparent reason, and the whole flock goes on a wild , raucus flight before settling again. After a few performances like this they gradually disperse to feed. It’s a joy to watch.
Thank you for conjuring those images of rooks in my head this morning. I don't get to see them close up very often. What brilliant birds!
Very interesting post, Phil - it is a pity more people don't appreciate corvids :-)
I love the way encounters with the natural world call up the past in your writing. Thank you
The Rooks & Crows are returning in numbers to the garden. I love to watch and listen to their varied vocalisations. When the young arrive it's raucous but we must endure it for a while😊
Fabulous writing and photos. I only know rooks proper from working at HM Tower of London, years ago. I've met plenty of crows and bright eye jackdaws though...
A great read Phil. We were always told as kids that if the rooks build their nest really high in the spring the weather would be mostly calm but if they built them lower down it would be windy.
Thanks! I remember being told something similar. Someone ought to collect all the old pieces of country wisdom, before they get forgotten
A grand idea for a book.
Fabulous post. I love all the corvids - interesting behaviour, strong physical features. Do you know Mark Cocker's book 'Crow Country"?. It's beautifully written and full of insights into corvid behaviour.
Thanks, June. Yes, I read Mark’s book when it was published, and really enjoyed it
Cheers Phil a reminder of a forgotten past, and a shame that Rookeries are pushed further out into the countryside through urbanisation I never thought about that until now. Something every child should experience growing up is the joy and sounds of a local rookery. I must check on the one closet to me at Wentworth Garden Centre to see if it is still there, I will let you know if it is.