Cripes! Again...

First and foremost, thanks for all the replies to my first "Cripes!" post.  I've just come back to the site and I'm really finding it difficult to find my way around - and judging by some of the other comments, I'm not the only one. That's why I decided to write a new post rather than carry on with the original.  I hope the RSPB "Powers That Be" will take a long, hard look at what people are saying and do something to make it easier - like it used to be!!!

However, back to the magpies; our local pair are looking very handsome, as is their nest!  With luck, this cold spell will put them off.  I agree it might be a regional thing - there certainly seems to be a lot of work going on around here!  I don't think I'm noticing them because leaf fall has made them more visible (although that's always a possibility), because the nests seem to be very intact and appear quite strong.  Perhaps they're just "being prepared"!  Interesting about the mallards though.