Flight of the raven

We were a bit later than usual getting to the top of Arnside Knott this morning and we missed the rosy red sunrise. It was good anyway to stand and watch the sun rising through light cloud and to listen to the ravens' deep guttural cronks, as they flew from Middlebarrow to the larches on the Knott. This one was trailing behind the other three. In large, you can see his fingery primaries. The layers build towards Ingleborough which is shrouded in cloud.

It's not just the ravens that are vocal in the mornings. After the summer silence when the residents and summer visitors were raising their broods, the woods and wood pastures are now erupting with the calls of nuthatches, chaffinches, wrens and titmice. The yew trees are carrying a heavy crop of berries, waiting for the imminent arrival of the big flocks of redwings that descend on us from Scandinavia to gorge on the fleshy fruits. I could hear a few of the advance party with their high-pitched calls today, but didn't catch sight of one. There are so many berries that they are falling and gathering almost in drifts on the ground below the yews.

This blip is dedicated to the memory of Wendybee who passed away in July after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2012. I only learned today of her passing. Thank you Hilary.