Well we have more bird pictures!

I bet that surprises you doesn't it. So these pictures are from the next couple of days - I will eventually get caught up I am sure. There is just so much to do and see and tell you about when I get to use the laptop!

So here are the nest batch of photos from mummy's nature cam! So firstly I realised i had one more great one from the 2nd - Doris trying to see if there was a way she could get out of the garden. She knows there is a gate here, and she can fit underneath it - but mummy has put the guinea pig run roof in front of it to thwart her. Look at that beady eye.

 So first to the garden the following day were, of course, the crow family. I love this photo as it captures one of the youngsters having just landed and re-arranging its feather. Dad at the back thinks he might have spotted something worth investigating.

 The next visitor was the Magpie, just after the crows had been scared off by movement - I think GavGav had gone to the toilet and they saw him look out the window, but it does seem a little early for that. This magpie is such a handsome feller, and his beak is so much more delicate than that of the crows. You can see when he is foraging that he takes his time about it rather than just barging in, which the crows do. A much more reserved bird.

 It is not long before the crows are back however, and they really enjoyed playing in the loose soil mummy had left. It was almost like they were dust bathing at times, but as it is clay soil I doubt that very much. I think he just lost his footing and didn't want anybody else to realise.

And then they were joined by a friend!!! Usually it is only the five family members tht play together in the garden - even I don't know who this interloper is! I think maybe it is a suitor for one of the youngsters, however they are this years young so shouldn't really be looking to mate for another year or so yet.

 Sorry I just had to share this one with you - how else can I wind my crow friends up if I do not share one of the embarrassing phots of them - she looks like she has a very fluffy bum here hahaha.

 And then FINALLY somebody spots the fat ball mummy put out for them. It is silly really as they know she puts them out, but they pick and peck at the mealworms (that are supposed to be for the robin and wagtail, as well as the blackbirds) and then go for the fat ball once they have eaten them all. I was telling them where it was for ages but they just didn't want to listen to the odd white bird!

 They tend to have a bit of a squabble occassional which is noce to see - they are a normal family after all.

So somebody picked up the fat ball and triend to fly away with it before any of theothers noticed. However, it was noticed and the crow was encouraged to drop it before he could eat much of it (he didn't have a good hold of it otherwise he would never have let it go back into the garden!). So then one of the other youngsters saw it and the following two pictures show how a clever crow nicks off with a full fat ball!

 Yup a bit of crow yoga!

 And the last one decided to grab a quick drink - as though he knew if he waited a bit he could just have the crumbs that the others all dropped without using too much energy fighting over it haha.

 The dad often comes back just to check if anything further has been put out. I think he is trying to look intimidating, but my beak is much bigger and stronger than his so I am not scared.

So the camera was moved ever so slightly to try and get more of a range of pictures - GavGav set it up on a tripod. He managed to catch Doris' corner in the shot and she kept setting the camera off - half ten, half three and then she woke up properly here at half 6.

 And again first to the garden is that crow. It is sometimes the Magpie that is first to the garden, but she is very good at staying out of the camera shot while she checks things out. Mummy had put some old fruit out on the lawn, and the crow is wondering what the heck it is. They kept coming back to it throughout the day and seeing if it had turned into something edible.

 Here are the Magpies. This was the usual pair, but I think the extra face might have been one of their youngsters. They do not often come into the garden together, never mind as a threesome, and they are quite difficult to tell apart. The crows are easier as daddy is quite large, and the babies have white patches still, as well as one having the brown spot on the head, so leaving the mummy as the slender one left. The Magpies are just all black and white with iridecent sheen! But they do sound amazing!

 I had to share this one with you as it was so funny. You should have seen them trying to get themselves lined up for the camera to take the picture. These youngsters are such comedians sometimes - and mummy wonders why I am so happy when they are out at work all day - well because I have idiot friends like this pair.

 

 I thought you might also want to see the lovely iridescent shimer on the magpies wings and tail. Isn't it strange how it doesn't extend to the head? Of course I can see colours in the ultraviolet spectrum, so these birds are much more colourful to my eyes, and the head shines such lovely shades of purple.

 And then there was a rabbit! She got to play out a little more as mummy was back from work early. I don't think mummy's plants will thank her for it though lol.

Right it is off to bed for me. I will go through some more pictures tomorrow and upload them in the next few days. Do enjoy these ones, and my stories behind the photos.

Bye bye,

Chucky