Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Birds - Magpie Page 1

Image Taken on 28 Dec 2021 at 15:56 Image of day on 31 Jan 2022

All at the same scale: Buzzard, Magpie, Pigeon, and the unexpectedly small Kestrel.

Ref: 20220131_d01_20211228_1556_041-1503_038_fb6 buzzard + magpie + wood pigeon + kestrel female on meadow post (same scale montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 31 Dec 2017 at 13:44 Image of day on 07 Feb 2018

Finding a dead Rabbit on a path as we occasionally do, we moved it to just outside the trigger beam at the woodland site in the expectation of a fox dragging it away overnight. The magpies have the first pecks, but a quarter of an hour later this Buzzard landed right on top of the Rabbit Carcass.

Ref: 20180207_e64_20171231_1344_162_fb2 buzzard and magpies feeding on dead rabbit 04 of 45 (crop 1)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Oct 2008 at 06:49 Image of day on 17 Nov 2008

A little story helped along by a bit of brightening and sharpening of the magpie in the gloom away from the flashgun, but a genuine single frame.

Ref: 20081117_d3a_20081028_0649_029 fb1 chaffinch pair disturbed by approaching magpie(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 25 Nov 2005

All the beating wings in this Jackdaw-Magpie confrontation has lifted the dry fallen leaves from the ground.

Ref: 20051125_d3e_27457 fb1 flying jackdaw menacing magpie on ground with autumn leaves flying 2005nov19_15-40-00(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Nov 2012 at 10:51 Image of day on 12 Dec 2012

This single frame was a surprise. The Great Spotted Woodpecker (left) and a Magpie are sharing the perch. These are two birds we don't remember seeing together before, and startled us with the difference in size. Woodpeckers 'pack a punch' for their size!

Ref: 20121212_d3b_20121113_1051_033_fb3 great spotted woodpecker male facing magpie on perch (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 01 Nov 2021 at 15:22 Image of day on 10 Dec 2021

A Grey Squirrel - Magpie mix usually sees the Mammal chasing away the bird. But here we see the same pairing quietly eating peanuts together.
So the Squirrel is probably the much more sociable female of the species!

Ref: 20211210_e6a_20211101_1522_048_fb5 grey squirrel and magpie quietly eating peanuts together (crop)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 02 Nov 2018 at 16:27 Image of day on 22 Dec 2018

The sweet fluffy Grey Squirrel showing another aspect of it's behaviour.

Ref: 20181222_e64_20181102_1627_058_fb2 grey squirrel attacking magpie (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Oct 2021 at 17:34 Image of day on 10 Dec 2021

A not-so-sweet Grey Squirrel chases off a Magpie who dared not to leave the moment the Squirrel arrived.

Ref: 20211210_e63_20211028_1734_042_fb1 grey squirrel chases magpie from hedge bottom(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Dec 2017 at 13:35 Image of day on 17 Jan 2018

" ... and stay away!"

Ref: 20180117_e64_20171209_1335_277_fb2 grey squirrel chasing away magpie(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Feb 2017 at 12:14 Image of day on 03 Apr 2017

Another chaotic magpie image showing incredibly bright blue iridescent feather tips on this Magpie.
We haven't altered the brightness or colour at all.

Ref: 20170403_e62_20170220_1214_008_fb5 grey squirrel chasing away magpie(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Dec 2013 at 14:59 Image of day on 26 Jan 2014

Only a few days to official Winter, and the Grey Squirrels seem to be even more boisterous than usual. This one is chasing off a Magpie whose edge of feather is all the camera caught.

Ref: 20140126_d50_20131207_1459_201_fb1 grey squirrel chasing away magpie(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 31 Aug 2017 at 16:37 Image of day on 22 Oct 2017

This Grey Squirrel has decided it doesn't want the Magpie for company. The Magpie is taking off away and to the right (so head invisible) with the tail dragging on the ground.

Ref: 20171022_e64_20170831_1637_011_fb2 grey squirrel chasing away magpie flying off with tail still on ground(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 12 Dec 2015 at 13:02 Image of day on 21 Jan 2016

"This tomato slice is MINE!"
The tiny opposing 'thumbs' of this Grey Squirrel make this look altogether 'too human'.

Ref: 20160121_e63_20151212_1302_202_fb1 grey squirrel holding slice of tomato in paws + magpie (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 01 Jul 2014 at 17:58 Image of day on 08 Sep 2014

Over 10 minutes this Grey Squirrel repulsed several attempts by the Magpies to access the freshly baited stone. Bottom left is our favourite, but the quality won't stand a larger image.

Ref: 20140908_e63_20140701_1758_067-1808_073_fb1 grey squirrel repeatedly chasing away magpie(s) over 10 minutes 1-4 of 4 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 12 May 2021 at 18:19 Image of day on 07 Jun 2021

Should we tell the Magpie that the Grey Squirrel was sitting on his food 3 minutes earlier?
The Magpie's eye is fine - he has closed his nictitating membrane (inner eyelid) for a moment.

Ref: 20210607_e64_20210512_1819_183+1822_185_fb2 grey squirrel sits on piece of apple in magpies beak 3 minutes later (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Oct 2014 at 16:29 Image of day on 28 Dec 2014

A chance moment of a Grey Squirrel hogging down a corn and peanut butter mix, as a magpie takes off behind.

Ref: 20141228_e64_20141028_1629_059_fb2 grey squirrel with mouthful of food as magpie takes off behind(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 19 Apr 2020 at 12:03 Image of day on 09 May 2020

In the daytime we saw only Magpies visiting to eat the roadkill Hare - not one sighting of any other Corvid despite the area being awash with Rooks and a few Jackdaws.

Ref: 20200509_e62_20200419_1203_195_fb5 hare roadkill being eaten by magpie (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 Jan 2010 at 15:35 Image of day on 10 Feb 2010

Delicate use of a powerful magpie beak.

Ref: 20100210_d35_20100104_1535_022_fb4 head detail of magpie picking up food(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Dec 2007 at 15:17 Image of day on 28 Jan 2008

We try to put out food around sunset to give the birds a chance to feed up before night without taking it ALL. While robins always get the first pick, the Corvids soon descend to get the lion's share as this uncropped image (whole camera frame) of this site shows.

Ref: 20080128_d3b_20071226_1517_022 fb1 2 jackdaws + magpie + another (top right) with fresh bait(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Oct 2021 at 17:22 Image of day on 29 Nov 2021

As the day ends this Jay lands on the Meadow Post (right) and within 400mS is already persuaded to leave by an arriving Magpie.
We have often commented that the various Corvid (Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws and Magpies) usually tolerate each other well. Jays are also Corvids but it looks like the others may not consider them 'part of the clan'.

Ref: 20211129_d01_20211017_1722_080+081_fb6 jay lands on meadow post (right) chased away by magpie 1+2 of 2 (montage over 400ms)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Backwards

Forwards

Comments and requests for image use

To make a comment, ask for information or to request a full resolution image, send us an email including the reference or the date for the image you are interested in.

All initial contacts should be made using the icon below:-