Carrion Crows on the Cliff-top
To paint a picture, it was a cold and overcast day; my wife and I could see the band of rain approaching the coast over the English Channel, and the morning seemed to get darker after the sun disappeared at about 09:30.
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Humans are likely less aware of the weather and conditions around us than animals who spend their entire lives exposed to the elements.
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Carrion Crows, (Corvus corone), are an omnivorous and relatively large bird found across most of England, Wales, and Scotland. Their name derives from their role in eating carrion, which, while providing sustenance to these birds, also reduces the risk of disease from an animal carcass.
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We're not entirely sure what this crow was eating; it was likely some scraps blown out of bins in recent storms. They were frequently bothered by other birds (gulls and jackdaws) who were also sheltering around the cliffs in preparation for the coming storm.
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It was clear that the crows were expert aviators, frequently diving off from the edge of the cliff to rapidly build airspeed to outwit and outmaneuver competitors.
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Unlike the Herring Gulls (Larus Argentatus), the crows have distinctive flight feathers on the edge of their wings that look like five fingers acting similar to the wing tips on an aircraft.
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Carrion Crows are known to be some of the most intelligent birds in the British Isles, often using tools such as wires to fish food out of plastic bottles, attempting to access food inaccessible to other animals.
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Although initially appearing black, especially against a bright sky, their feathers have an iridescent quality, shifting between a cyan and red color.
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Their calls are often heard in threes, sounding like a "caw caw caw." their call is so loud they frequently get reported to the council as a nuisance.
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A curious and intelligent bird, they are wary but interested in humans. Rather than just ignoring you, they will frequently watch you, especially if you are close to (or holding) a food source.
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I hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them and learning about these beautiful animals.
References
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