Spring watch at home!

We had a very peasant morning walk despite the early drizzle.

From Hewenden viaduct we went down Hallas Lane to Hallas Bridge and across Bents Lane in a circuit back to Harecroft and Station Road where we had left the cars. Our aim was to miss the long wet grass but we failed and were wet to the knees again by the end.

The real drama was after I had cleaned up and changed. Yesterday we saw one of the young crows fledge from the nest in our neighbours chimney. I became aware of the nest when sitting in the Garden couple do weeks ago. There was such a lot of noise and after watching a while I saw a crow disappearing at the back of the chimney.

It was quite a surprise as they have had sparrow nests in the eaves before but not crows in the chimney! The proof was double today as these two young crows hovered on the chimney pot this morning wondering what to do next. (Not sure if they are two more or yesterday's and another one.) The parents kept flying in encouraging them and they would fly off in a little circuit and land back again.

I kept the kitchen door open to keep an eye on it all. In the end I couldn't resist taking some snaps despite the distance, their dark colouring and squinting into the fairly bright sky. They are not brilliant but we have thoroughly enjoyed observing their fledge and our own little episode of Spring Watch so I thought I would share the drama with you.

PS just been told that these are Jackdaws!