THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT

It's odd how a few warm sunny days can make you forget the weeks and weeks of cold winds and rain. I find it hard to believe that just a few short days ago I was out in a biting cold wind wearing several layers of clothes .

Now for the fly! It happens that there are two nests of Magpies in the orchard,one at the top and one at the bottom by the lane side, it also happens that both sets of young fledged at the same time a couple of days ago. Any one who has watched “Midsommer Murders” will be familiar with the machine gun like call of a Magpie in distress ,this accompanied by the mad cackling of the young birds has woken us at three forty-five each morning since the birds fledged.

They congregate outside my bedroom window in the ash tree and the noise is deafening. I gave up all thought of sleep this morning and watched their antics for a couple of hours,I loved every minute of their performance.

The young birds,still with their nestling’s gape and very short tails are comic and pathetic by turns,chasing the parents, begging for food ,then sitting disconsolate when that food is not forthcoming. Unable to determine what form food should take they attempt to devour twigs,leaves and paper,spiting each unpleasant mouthful out in disgust. When one finds an edible morsel the whole tribe pile in like rugby players in a frantic tackle until one lucky bird escapes with the prize......then the whole comic performance begins again.

Luckily there is plenty of food about as we keep our feeder well primed at this time of the year so they soon learn to fend for themselves,still it takes longer for young Magpies to become self sufficient that smaller birds like Blue tits or robins.

The machine gun rattle of the parents calling out danger is constant throughout the day as first marauding jays ,then a hunting Kestrel raise their alarm ,only when darkness falls does their racket cease. At this time of the year the nights are short so the blessed quiet does not last long.

These days the gentle hooting of a Tawny Owl is as a gentle lullaby, even the occasional screach of a Fox barely disturbs the calm for those few precious hours before the circus begins again.

I know that Magpies have the reputation of killing and eating the young of smaller birds and it is unfortunately all too true, even so, and in spite of the noise I have a soft spot for these handsome birds.

One word of caution, Magpies are wonderful mimics. They can sound like any mobile phone

and can even mimic any voice that tit hears regularly. Some friends of mine taught a young Magpie to order visitors off the property in the rudest possible way. The bird then did this each time someone entered the gate. The establishment in question was a garden centre and the trouble caused before the true identity of the rude one came to light was considerable and almost cost one young lad his job.

It was only when the bird ordered the Managing Director to leave in the same rude fashion that the real culprit was identified.

So if you have young magpies nearby be careful what you say about your Mother in Law, the birds will not only repeat what you have said,it will do so in your own voice.

The other aid to a restless night is the cat Moth who has taken up big game hunting ever since she found a large spider in the bathroom. She now makes frequent noisy searches at  night,we have tried giving her a fake spider to play with but she finds the real thing much more fun. Last night she accosted one under my bed....the rest is history.