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Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image Taken on 08 Nov 2022 at 09:22    Image of day on 10 Dec 2022

Touchdown!
The first claw of this majestic Magpie has just touched the edge of the post.


Ref: 20221210_d01_20221108_0922_017_fb6 magpie landing in heraldic position(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 05 Aug 2010 at 18:03    Image of day on 08 Sep 2010

Change over at the tree-stump - the arriving magpie has his claws rather more threatening than needed for just a landing. The iridescent green sheen on the tail feathers is an optical interference effect (real - not a photographic effect).


Ref: 20100908_d35_20100805_1803_044_fb4 magpie landing in tree stump as another (with iridescent tail) leaves (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 11 Mar 2021 at 08:16    Image of day on 12 Apr 2021

Magpies glue their nests together with mud - another beakful in transit.


Ref: 20210412_d01_20210311_0816_003_fb6 magpie landing ion meadow post with beakful of mud(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Apr 2025 at 08:51    Image of day on 26 May 2025

Magpies are still building/maintaining nests.


Ref: 20250526_d01_20250416_0851_077+078_fb6 magpie landing momentarily on meadow post with twig in beak (montage over 500ms)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Dec 2021 at 14:26    Image of day on 16 Jan 2022

This Magpie touches down in a flurry of feathers.


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Image Taken on 28 Nov 2024 at 08:54    Image of day on 05 Jan 2025

The Meadow Post is smothered in frost which doesn't seem to bother the Magpie at all


Ref: 20250105_d01_20241128_0854_003+004_fb6 magpie landing on frost covered meadow post (accurate montage over 500ms)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Feb 2013 at 07:46    Image of day on 24 Mar 2013

A magpie caught at the moment of landing with the wing feathers and tail catching the flashlight very attractively


Ref: 20130324_d5c_20130218_0746_004_fb2 magpie landing on log with iridescent wings and tail (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Feb 2022 at 16:19    Image of day on 22 Mar 2022

A Magpie makes the characteristic tail rise to balance after landing.


Ref: 20220322_d01_20220221_1619_070_fb6 magpie landing on meadow post(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 03 Nov 2021 at 15:04    Image of day on 13 Dec 2021

The markings on Magpies are a wonder.
The Black/wide divide on the wings runs diagonally across the feathers, and the tips of the primaries (the main flight feathers) are tipped with Grey.
And we can't even see the back and tail in this landing.


Ref: 20211213_d01_20211103_1504_205_fb6 magpie landing on meadow post(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Sep 2025 at 08:52    Image of day on 20 Nov 2025

Magpies seem always to do this tail rasing as they land, presumably to counter the forward torque of their bodies still moving forward. Half a second later the tail is already back to 'normal'.


Ref: 20251120_d01_20250928_0852_184+185_fb6 magpie landing on meadow post (montage over 500ms)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Nov 2024 at 13:25    Image of day on 31 Dec 2024

Touchdown!


Ref: 20241231_d01_20241126_1325_037_fb6 magpie landing on meadow post facing camera(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 19 Jul 2021 at 06:50    Image of day on 29 Aug 2021

A Magpie makes an early morning landing lit by the sun behind. We think that the brown feathers are backlit, while the white primaries are catching the sun directly.


Ref: 20210829_d01_20210719_0650_001_fb6 magpie landing on meadow post in cloud of midges with sunlight through feathers(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Jun 2020 at 10:33    Image of day on 20 Jul 2020

We don't remember seeing a Magpie with prey in its claws before, but this one is streaked with fresh blood from some small bird (prey's claws pointing upwards).


Ref: 20200720_d01_20200614_1033_288_fb6 magpie landing on meadow post with blood stained prey in talons (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Mar 2021 at 13:30    Image of day on 12 Apr 2021

Magpies are building several nests around the site


Ref: 20210412_d01_20210317_1330_101+102_fb6 magpie landing on meadow post with twig in beak (montage over 400ms)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 31 Mar 2024 at 14:47    Image of day on 26 Apr 2024

A Magpie stops off on the Meadow post with yet another twig. Read this right then left about half a second apart.


Ref: 20240426_d01_20240331_1447_010+009_fb6 magpie landing on meadow post with twig in beak (montage right then left 400ms)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Jul 2016 at 11:42    Image of day on 26 Aug 2016

A magpie providing a good show of feathers as it lands on the kitchen window perch.


Ref: 20160826_e60_20160707_1142_004_fb3 magpie landing on perch rear view (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Oct 2017 at 16:17    Image of day on 13 Nov 2017

The bird on the left is suggestive of a juvenile, but without any real evidence. The bird on the right is just about to land. We have no idea what followed.


Ref: 20171113_d36_20171007_1617_071_fb4 magpie landing on tree stump next to another (poss a juvenile)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Apr 2017 at 09:53    Image of day on 24 May 2017

A Magpie landing on the tree-stump provides a detailed view of the black/grey edges to the flight feathers.


Ref: 20170524_d36_20170408_0953_045_fb4 magpie landing on tree stump showing black outlined primary feathers (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Dec 2018 at 14:14    Image of day on 28 Jan 2019

A Magpie making a dynamic landing on the tree-stump.


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Image Taken on 05 Nov 2025 at 07:44    Image of day on 27 Dec 2025

Next day this Magpie shows us how each primary flight feather is outlined in black and greys.
This form of camouflage seems to be called Dazzle or Disruptive Colouration and works amazingly well in the woodland canopy. Not so well on this tree-stump!


Ref: 20251227_e6c_20251105_0744_042_fb4 magpie landing on tree-stump showing pattern on each flight feather(r+mb id@576).jpg

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