Sailing in from Ireland and the North the Lake District was settled by Vikings in the Ninth Century onwards, leaving their mark in the field systems, in numerous place names and in their tales of Gods and Giants. So, it seemed that time turned back when a Raven, most revered of all the Norse birds floated out from Carl Side (Free-man’s Side) over the Upper Viewpoint this afternoon.

Bigger even than a Buzzard, its wedge-shaped tail and powerful bill and the slow beat of its majestic flight made it easy to understand why Odin, Chief of the Gods carried one on each shoulder.

This one probably has its home behind Dodd amongst the tumbled crags of Ullock Pike, (the Wolf Mountain). Unlike the Osprey, which likes a 360 view Ravens prefer a ‘backs to the wall’ nest site, often under a cliff overhang. They breed very early, starting their courting with aerobatic tumbles and dives in February -whilst our Ospreys are still in Africa - so there could be 4 or 5 chicks ready to fledge by now. These ravenous young mouths will be feeding on small mammals and birds as well as insects and carrion, making a family business as Refuse Operatives of the fells.

Living up to its reputed intelligence this afternoon’s raven sensibly kept its distance from the osprey nest site, but undoubtedly took notes for future reference.