It was magpie city at Old Moor on 25th November. Within 5 seconds of arriving at the Bittern Hide three settled on the gate and were joined by a kestrel.
It was quiet but not cold this time! I could not interpret the smoke signals from the volunteers who were working on site, but I suspect they meant 'bring
coffee'
Before getting a coffee for myself I stopped at the bird garden. Mostly the usual suspects were there (the birds not the people) plus a couple of interesting oddities. I'm not good on mouse/vole identification but this little one came to inspect the wood pile. Could someone tell me who the little beasty is please.
Then I got a shot of the magpie and when I looked at it later at home I realised that it had a deformed beak. A bit of research suggested it may have Avian Keratin Disorder , but I am sure someone will know and put me straight.
( https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/news/latest/2013/goldfinch-claws)
I returned to the bittern hide to prepare for the starlings (would they do their thing this time?) The light was staggering and the reeds had turned to gold.
A got a couple of fleeting glimpses of a kingfisher which reminded me of something I wrote earlier this year.
The kingfisher arrives in his impossible blue preceded by his own urgent announcement. He bobs. He falls. Down to break the green mirror with a plop. Returning to his perch he holds a small silver treasure fish. Then with a deft elegance not afforded to Jonah and the whale, The kingfisher juggles it's treasure until headfirst it is gone.
Eventually the starlings gathered but as last time I visited they were not in the mood for murmuring - but we still got a lovely view of them against a lovely sky. Another excellent day out only spoiled by a puncture on the M1, in the dark, in freezing temperatures, at rush hour, with no hard shoulder. But I survived.
Nice photos WB, I thing the furry is a Harvest Mouse, but will stand corrected.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.