A Parliament

Since we mowed the field the rooks have inundated  us. The shorter grass means easier pickings for the whole colony with the leatherjackets seemingly numerous.

Very twitchy when it comes to any movement, it's a difficult call creeping up on any but with it raining I was in doors and shot this through the window. Tried to get the lens outside but they weren't having any of it. 

Rookeries can be considerable in size with one colony in the Scottish lowlands having 9000 birds. We haven't here. They have a strong sense of territory and defend the area around their nests sometimes stealing sticks from the nests of neighbouring pairs. They lay 3-6 eggs which the female incubates round about this time, made with untidy sticks and lined with dry grass, leaves and roots. Both parents feed the chicks which leave after about a month though these rooks here aren't feeding chicks yet I think. 

When they come up close they are actually quite impressive birds!