• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.
My Garden rarity
1krf.jpg
DSCN2056.jpeg
LTT
My Garden rarity
little stint
0139 Greenfinch.jpg
0136 Chaffinch.jpg
delia todd

My Garden rarity (Pica pica)

A bit of excitement in the middle of August, when a Magpie came to the garden.

Unfortunately, he only sat at the top of the tree, behind the leaves and spent all his time preening. However, we can see enough to identify him.

I just seem to get 1 or 2 visits a year, from the locally scarce species.
Click to expand...
Habitat
Rural town garden
Location
Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland
Date taken
12 August, 2024
Scientific name
Pica pica
Equipment used
Nikon Coolpix P900
Shutter speed, aperture & ISO
Birdwatching mode
  • Like
Reactions: paddyluke, Roynato and Gregg Martin
bievreJJ
I didn't realise they were that scarce at your place, Delia, fortunately you didn't miss him, excellent photo, many tfs!!
 
Doc Duck
Oh my goodness! Are magpies rare there? Here, they're almost considered pests, since they scare off the wee birds from the feeders. They're also smart enough to actually untie special treats I've hung up and fly off with them. So it's kind of a love/hate thing. They're bullies, but you've gotta admire their smarts and their looks.
 
delia todd
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
bievreJJ said:
I didn't realise they were that scarce at your place, Delia, fortunately you didn't miss him, excellent photo, many tfs!!
Click to expand...
Indeed so JJ; we've only been seeing any at all in the last 10 years. They're still not common - can't recall seeing one since that picture. Though I'm sure I heard one near our car park a few weeks ago.
 
delia todd
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
Doc Duck said:
Oh my goodness! Are magpies rare there? Here, they're almost considered pests, since they scare off the wee birds from the feeders. They're also smart enough to actually untie special treats I've hung up and fly off with them. So it's kind of a love/hate thing. They're bullies, but you've gotta admire their smarts and their looks.
Click to expand...
LOL yes, a rarity here. Up until about 10 years ago there were none at all to be seen. I had to go to Edinburgh/Glasgow or Aberdeen to see any. Now they are around, but still don't see much of them, perhaps two/three sightings a year.

Yep... they're clever beasties, aren't they LOL
 

Media information

Category
Britain & Europe
Added by
delia todd
Date added
View count
211
Comment count
12

Image metadata

Device
NIKON COOLPIX P900
Aperture
ƒ/5
Focal length
107.0 mm
Exposure time
1/200 second(s)
ISO
400
Flash
Off, did not fire
Filename
BF Eurasian Magpie 12 August 2024.jpg
File size
585.9 KB
Date taken
Mon, 12 August 2024 10:50 AM
Dimensions
1500px x 1228px

Share this media

Back
Top