Raven Since my last blog a month or so ago my time has been mostly occupied by very local birding and various major garden projects. I had my first jab two weeks ago receiving the Pfizer mRNA vaccine. I suffered no major side effects apart from a very sore arm. I feel eternally grateful to our amazing NHS for the job they have done on the vaccine roll out program, >20 million jabs to date is a truly astonishing achievement! Last week I again went on my long walk from home around the National Trust’s Croome estate. It was a sunny morning with a definite feel of spring in the air. First stop was Croome church and graveyard which always looks a prime spot for a Black Redstart, ever hopeful (!). I then walked around the edge of the estate which offers a mixed habitat of farmland, damp woodland and open grass parkland. In the woodland a Kestrel, seemly oblivious to my presence, stared intently at the ground for any sign of movement. Kestrel’s spectral vison extends...