| Joined: | Wed Apr 18th, 2012 |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Posts: | 4204 |
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Rather a grey day here but looking out the window I noticed an odd bird on the birdbath - it seemed to have a white rump and dark wings - went to grab the camera but it had flown. So I waited a while to see if it reappeared which it didn't!
However I did have the blackbirds screaming back & forth - not settling for a drink - then I spotted one of our noisy neighbours up in the top of the trees -
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and a moment later, which explains the blackbird's antics -
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Nicely caught. Magpies can be very skitty and 'shy'. I find them difficult to get optimum exposure due to the intense white and black.
There's also something prehistoric about how a magpie moves about. I reckon they are closely related to velociraptors 😆
We have a family that visit us. With all the small bird nesting that must be in the guarding we put food out for these predators to try to defray loss of there offspring. Magpies love corn, Jays love half peanuts, jackdaws love mealworms and squirrels eat anything but prefer nuts and sunflower hearts. Interestingly the Tits don't like half peanuts especially without the husk. I suppose they like a round object they recognise as the real McCoy? If we put half peanuts in a feeder they regularly through away several whities before getting one they like....the ground crew (pigeons and doves) are always appreciative. It's quite a complicated (not to mention expensive) life managing wildlife mealtimes in this place. 😞
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Eric