Today we climbed up Ben Ledi in the hope of seeing some mountain hares. However, I know well enough by now that although you don’t see what you’re looking for, often nature gives you an unexpected surprise. Today’s was seeing this very tame raven at the very top of the mountain.
Here it is either eating some snow or cleaning its large beak, not sure which!
I don’t usually photograph corvids, members of the crow family, as they are just big black birds. But look at its colours in the sunlight and sleek shiny plumage. The talons are amazing close up too.
Ravens are the largest of the corvids. They are highly intelligent. This one knows that humans reward their hill climbing efforts with snacks at the top and they can get some tasty treats here too. They can make gestures to communicate with each other. They can also mimic a variety of sounds, including human voices, sometimes better than parrots.
Our new friend happily took our offerings of bits of cheese sandwich, then flew off with an “ARK ARK” when we were finished our lunch. In folk lore ravens are often seen as bad omens or symbols of death, because of their blackness. Certainly, no mountain hares were seen today, but this character was fun to see.
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 