A walk up Duncarnock Fort usually leads to wildlife sightings. Disappointingly, it also usually coincides with a lack of decent light. Just the suggestion of a stroll up The Craigie (as the hill is known locally) ensures the clouds start to form overhead.
On a recent trip, we had amazing views of a pair of ravens including one barrel rolling above our heads. The lack of light meant that I struggled to capture them in flight and, to be completely honest, I felt frustrated as they landed in trees out of sight. Their calls seemed to mock me as they reverberated around the hills.
I have always adored ravens but did not see one in the flesh until I moved to Scotland. I remember the delight when I first saw a pair fly overhead when we were out on a walk. I even cried when they began to call. It was a moment I had longed for. Since then, I have caught glimpses of ravens numerous times, but these encounters have mostly been very brief. Either they have soared high above our heads or have flown swiftly into the distance. They are a bird of high places and rugged spaces where we don’t often go.
As we walked back to our car, the ravens were still raucously calling. We saw them drop from the trees into a farmer’s field and vanish. It was my partner that spotted a black head pop up on the brow of a hill in the field. When I looked through my lens I was delighted to see my first raven at a Rhiannon-friendly height! This beauty stood and shouted for a few minutes before it joined its mate in the sky and disappeared.
These are not great images. They will not win any awards, but they mean a huge amount to me. They also encourage me to keep looking out for species that I am struggling to see. Opportunities like this will come around as long as I am always ready to grab them. I am incredibly grateful to have found a place so close to my home to watch one of my favourite birds.