Saturn and into the night shifts.

So, for my last three days on the project (for now at least), I was down to do shifts into the night.  Once the pairs have laid eggs, the plan is to get 24 hour watches going on each of the nest sites (some mindless people still collect eggs, would you believe).  This requires a fair bit of man power, so if you’re reading this, and fancy getting involved, then please do.  Probably your best bet is to contact the Cornish Chough Project (http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/projects/details/223656-cornwall-chough-project).

Anyway, it just so happened that the last three days have been blessed with clear skies and much less wind than previous days.  In fact I’d go as far as to say it was hot during the day.  As a result, I managed to do some star gazing at night, and found Saturn through the RSPB scope I was using (16 to 20x).  Wow, I can’t believe how clear the rings are.  I’m afraid my digi-scope system just wasn’t up to getting a picture of it, but let me tell you, it’s an amazing site.

My shifts were to look after the young choughs, who are now showing all the signs of incubating.  She spends the majority of her time on the nest, coming out, mostly near the end of the day, to feed and partake in grooming sessions with him.  Usually I get to see this and it’s very sweet.  He makes some (although maybe not as much as we might consider appropriate) effort to make sure she’s fed well, and she often cuddles up to him, or grooms his back with her beak.

Meanwhile, he’s continuing to harass the local raven, although he now seems at ease with passers by.  Apparently ravens are known to take chough eggs, so I have to wonder whether his behaviour doesn’t just draw attention to the pair, or if he’s got the raven thinking that he’s not to be messed with.  We’ll see.

Tonight, as the birds were going to roost, I wished them the best of luck.  I’ve grown very fond of Brownblue and Whitebrown, and a couple of the local pairs of jackdaws (currently hauling large amounts of nesting material about, in a sometimes fairly comical way).  I’m hoping that I’ll get a chance to come down here again this spring.  In the meantime, if I hear any news about Mr Brownblue and Lady Whitebrown et al, I’ll add it to this blog.