We are up in Wharfedale for a few days, staying in the village of Addingham. There's a wedding on this evening in nearby Denton Hall - the bride is the daughter of some Sheffield friends. Above there's a sheep I saw this afternoon next to the village cricket ground. She didn't seem at all concerned about the magpies that kept exploring her fleece for ticks.
Looks like a lovely area YP. Those are not common magpie but Magpii remorus, the remora magpie that actually has small residual suckers, one each side of their bills, rather like our appendix. Their behaviour reflects their ancient predecessors that used to attach themselves with these sucker-like appendages to precambrian flocks of goats.
ReplyDeleteWell these are things I never knew Kate - unless you are winding me up!
DeleteNah! That's dead troo guv.
DeleteThat's a very cute pic, Yorkie. Your magpies are not at all like our maggies down this way. Ours are much bigger and you magpies appear to have a little blue on them whereas ours don't. The Aussie maggies are just black and white. I love the magpies...but then I love all birds.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Aussie magpies were introduced or a native species?
DeleteNative species and very clever.
DeleteAussie magpies are just amazing birds . At the moment it's Magpie swooping season as they guard their nest. A recent study in Oz about magpies shows that they recognise faces . I have never been swooped by the magpies that live in our area. I often give them food and the pair I feed are amazing . They spot me and will fly down and get some raw minced meat . I love magpies .
ReplyDeleteSame here with me, Leisha....my maggies never swoop on me. I give them meat scraps every afternoon....they know a good thing when they see it...and they're not going to you-know-what in their own nest (or restaurant)! :)
DeleteThey serenade me...as do the butcher birds, kookas and currawongs...they all come for their afternoon feed before they head home for the night. I love having them all hang around. It gets quite noisy outside at times...particularly if I'm running late with their dinner!! :)
Lee I think we two are birds of a feather... I love the bird life as well . You seem to have quite a few friends .
DeleteLeishy - Lee is known locally as The Birdwoman of Tamborine Mountain. The health authority are keeping a close eye upon her!
DeleteTake a look at your photo. It looks like the magpies are actually standing on the sheep.
ReplyDeleteThey were standing on the sheep Red!
DeleteThat sheep will consider those birds her very best friends - getting rid of vermin and making her life better. Isn't that what best friends are for?
ReplyDeleteMs Soup
Best friends never pecked at my head for lice or other parasites Alphie! You might be different in that respect.
DeleteAll crows do this. It is great to see symbiotic relationships. Happy sheep, happy Magpies.
ReplyDeleteLike whales with attendant clean-up fishes.
DeleteIn snotty business consultant speak, we have a true win-win situation here. In normal librarian speak, it's a good picture. Magpies are great birds, but I doubt I'd think that way if I were a small song bird or little sparrow.
ReplyDeleteWill you let us see some more pictures from Wharfedale?
I am having trouble doctoring my photos on this laptop Miss Arian but I shall endeavour to post some more pictures tonight.
DeleteIf I had ticks I'd not be concerned at a magpie pecking them off either!
ReplyDeleteWhat about a great bloody vulture Graham? Would that concern you?
DeleteProbably would. But it's not so it doesn't.
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