Together but Separate

I've said before, that the daily jackdaw commute from east to west is one of the great wildlife sights of the region. This is a good time of year to watch it. Its fascination, I think is that it illustrates the tension between the individuality of each bird and the flock's shared purpose.

Other birds flock in a more uniform way and each one is very much like the others. Jackdaws, like rooks, love to stick together in a companionable gang agreeing a similar purpose and destination, yet each keeps its separate identity. Note that in this picture each bird has its wings at a different angle. Togetherness should not mean conformity.

The spectacle is at its best in the morning with a strong wind coming from the west.