1 pair of magpie working very hard with large twigs in bills nest-building in fork of deciduous tree. Third successive day they have been carrying twigs to nest, using their wedge-shaped tails as a rudder to balance the weight of the twigs. Another pair on conifer tree some way away, nest probably from last year with typical dome shape ,and good vantage point with decent elevation (for quick getaway)!
To echo Sarfraz point on yesterday`s sightings 1 common buzzard soaring in warm air above houses c.10.40.A.M. A pair of chaffinch in large tree away really from woodland and 1 pair of bullfinch at start of cycle pathway(near. Helmshore Textile Museum). Several house sparrows noisily calling plus a couple of male dunnocks, offering good views. 1 grey squirrel in nearby garden tree plus 2 peacock butterflies.
Magpie seen tugging at fuchsia(fuchsia magellanica) wooden stems pulling them out and dropping on lawn grass. Then the bird picked up one wooden stem midway in its bill for balance and flew to the tree where nest-building was in earnest.
Yesterday magpie seen with clump of mud in bill scooped up from wet grass and flew to tree to spread on midway branches. Both birds of the pair flying on and off to make the structure more sturdy & comfortable.
Today magpie with small bird in bill ambushed and set upon by a pair of carrion crows in tree adjacent to tree where nest building is in earnest.
The magpie had to give up its meal which was hungrily torn to pieces by one of the crows. The magpie perched om the same tree a little way off(perhaps hoping some craps would fall from the crow"s bill and it would be able to manoeuvre them to its own bill. The crow dropped nothing. So the magpie took to flight.
Whether this will cause nest building to be abandoned completely, magpies being very wary birds yet to be determined........
The magpie pair are back!! Both birds seen a couple of days ago perched on nearby house roof together "on sentry duty" with good visibility of nesting tree. There was a carrion crow(not jackdaw) on roof a bit further away, so maybe just being cautious!!
Earlier today I was looking up at the well constructed nest and rather surprised to suddenly see the magpie fly off the nest. It was remarkably inconspicuous(for such a relatively large bird) and not even seen when looking straight upwards. Just "blending in".
Magpie then having a drink in adjacent roof guttering. All creature comforts conveniently available!!
From a point of great elevation set up scope and waited. Common buzzard rising and soaring on warm air thermals c.1214 hours today. Few raptors/other species enjoy the power of flight more, perhaps golden eagle or peregrine or raven or fulmar??
The buzzard was not vocal though but the rich variety of plumage is staggering. Quickly disappeared from view, in spite of the large, open landscape.
Still in Helmshore village: one dipper seen flying across the river by The Cotton House. A walk up Musbury gave : 4/5 pairs chaffinch(the most common passerine), 2/3 pairs blue tit,2/3 pairs great tit, 1 pair goldfinch, 4+ pairs blackbird, 4+ pairs carrion crow, 2/3 jackdaw, 2 magpie, 2 pairs robin,1 solitary long-tailed tit, 2 pairs starlings (adjacent to buildings), herring gull & Canada goose flying overhead and a solitary heron.
