Magpies

Well...  I've not managed to get out the house for about a week since last Sunday and yesterday I was given the chance to go out to the local hide and have a sit about - not like I'd been doing it all week!!  But still, it was fresh air at a great place.

A few things have happened in a week.  The reeds are growing rapidly.  Reed Warblers are nesting.  And the Magpies have fledged...

Many people hate Magpies...  But why?  They are very colourful when you see them in the right light.  They are very intelligent (as are all the corvids).  Ingenuity, I fear, may be one of the reasons why they aren't highly favoured because they use that brain power to rob the nests of other birds...  Controversial but not going there...

Here are a few pictures from yesterday and a fledgling Magpie that seemed to enjoy posing...

After a few clicks from the camera, this Magpie looked straight down the lens at me

Which one do you prefer?

Same image as above but desaturated and upped contrast...  which do you prefer?

Here, the fledgling was doing a bit of tree climbing...