Magpies as the orcas of the air is a good comparison - orcas are amazing, fascinating creatures and also very intelligent. I can never understand why predatory animals doing what they are supposed to do (ie be predators) is seen as a moral failing on their part or a reason for hatred. I'm scared of spiders, but I don't hate them or bear them any ill will - and certainly not for just doing what their natural role calls for. A magpie is nowhere near as vicious a predator as a dragonfly, but people are only bothered by one and not the other because small birds are cuter than flies. Which may be an understandable emotional reaction, but it's not exactly very fair and is still pretty hypocritical.
@Heavenlyannie even Oxford these doesn't require you to have studied a classical language previously, although it is part of the course. Cambridge has a 4 year course for those without previous classical language study, but only some colleges accept students who have studied Ancient Greek but not Latin for the 3 year course.
This is a part time online Masters degree over two years, and I don’t have to study any classical language at all. This is a good job as I am very much not a linguist (beyond the rather niche ability to do a basic eye examination in Sylheti!). It is one year taught, one year dissertation. I’ve just finished a part time Masters in early modern history which had the same structure and I loved it so much I came back for more. I consider it therapeutic, it gives my mania an outlet, and I’m lucky that my workplace funds me to study.
I remember learning about the Romans eating dormice when I was doing Latin at school. Not that we majored on it, it's just one of those things that stuck with me.
At our previous house some years ago we had a blackbird nesting in a tree just outside the study window and I still remember the screams of distress from the parent and her frantic chasing of the magpie as the nest was predated. I know the magpie was just being a magpie but I found it very upsetting.
There was a litter pick here earlier in the month which I would have joined if I could but it fell on a weekend when we were away. I intend to join in with the next one (don't know how often they happen).
We have a busy day ahead, a number of things to do, places to go, people to see, with some time constraints too. I'm sure it'll be fine... just taking it one step at a time Sweet Jesus.
I always wonder why magpies are demonized so much, when cats kill roughly 50 million birds every year in the UK. Well, obviously, they are pets, and they are cuddly.
I’m assuming it is because magpies are cannibals. Though, as previous mentioned, sparrowhawks do the same but perhaps we have different expectations of garden birds than raptors.
I’m assuming it is because magpies are cannibals; we don’t minds birds eating rodents. Though, as previous mentioned, sparrowhawks do the same but perhaps we have different expectations of garden birds than raptors.
That's an interesting point, which I haven't seen raised before. I think sparrowhawks are less frequent, aren't they? One other point is that magpies tend to take chicks, whereas cats tend to take adults, maybe that is less upsetting. I know in some rural areas, magpies are killed a lot, Larsen traps and so on.
We have peregrine falcons that the Town Hall has installed on top of a tower block in the neighbourhood to keep the pigeon population under control. This morning husband en rouge went down to water the garden and found the carcass of the falcon's dinner. Not a pretty sight apparently (although in principle I agree that there are too many pigeons and introducing a predator is not such a bad idea).
My dormouse is safely on my windowsill along with various other ornaments. I'd certainly not want to eat it or even a real one if I was lucky enough to see one.
I've just been into town for my weekly planning meeting about up-coming events. I need to have an early lunch and then get back to town as I'm going to the church to meet the judges who have been judging our town for the East Midlands towns in bloom competition, hence the litter picking yesterday. It was a fun event last year and I hope it's the same this year.
I think dislike of magpies is about biodiversity. Sparrowhawks are fairly uncommon, and can only limit the population of other species so far before they start outstripping their food supply. Magpies are pretty common and are omnivorous so can keep going even when they've suppressed the population of other birds.
Same with gulls. Boorish, nihilist thugs. Well, they have an effect on the natural world which is identical to that of humans who are boorish nihilist thugs, anyway.
I have a video of a magpie berating one of our cats because the cat invited the magpie's child indoors for an overnight play date and it did not come out again. Merlin (the cat) was contentedly lying in the sun while the magpie hopped around and screeched a lot. Merlin ignored the magpie but a few days later the bird was discovered dead at the bottom of the garden.
I think dislike of magpies is about biodiversity. Sparrowhawks are fairly uncommon, and can only limit the population of other species so far before they start outstripping their food supply. Magpies are pretty common and are omnivorous so can keep going even when they've suppressed the population of other birds.
I thought research disputes this, that magpies suppress other birds.
Same with gulls. Boorish, nihilist thugs. Well, they have an effect on the natural world which is identical to that of humans who are boorish nihilist thugs, anyway.
Ironically, quite a few gull species are redlisted, that is, they are declining rapidly, not because of humans but other factors.
Same with gulls. Boorish, nihilist thugs. Well, they have an effect on the natural world which is identical to that of humans who are boorish nihilist thugs, anyway.
Ironically, quite a few gull species are redlisted, that is, they are declining rapidly, not because of humans but other factors.
I’m sure a few species are endangered, but we have plenty of gulls, mostly herring gulls. They don’t have the same bad press as magpies for taking chicks and small mammals, but they do.
I know it’s nature, David Attenborough says so, but I really don’t like magpies. Nor do farmers, for a variety of reasons. Gulls are just flying rats.
Same with gulls. Boorish, nihilist thugs. Well, they have an effect on the natural world which is identical to that of humans who are boorish nihilist thugs, anyway.
Ironically, quite a few gull species are redlisted, that is, they are declining rapidly, not because of humans but other factors.
I’m sure a few species are endangered, but we have plenty of gulls, mostly herring gulls. They don’t have the same bad press as magpies for taking chicks and small mammals, but they do.
I know it’s nature, David Attenborough says so, but I really don’t like magpies. Nor do farmers, for a variety of reasons. Gulls are just flying rats.
Well, herring gulls are one of the latest additions to red lists. I can't remember their population drop, but its substantial. Of course, I adore them!
Same with gulls. Boorish, nihilist thugs. Well, they have an effect on the natural world which is identical to that of humans who are boorish nihilist thugs, anyway.
Ironically, quite a few gull species are redlisted, that is, they are declining rapidly, not because of humans but other factors.
I’m sure a few species are endangered, but we have plenty of gulls, mostly herring gulls. They don’t have the same bad press as magpies for taking chicks and small mammals, but they do.
I know it’s nature, David Attenborough says so, but I really don’t like magpies. Nor do farmers, for a variety of reasons. Gulls are just flying rats.
The Australian magpie is beloved by all ( even in nesting season when the dads can get aggro).
If you’re interested Wikipedia is your friend.
Gulls are quite another story, greedy bullies that they are.
Same as people: some are mostly nice, some are nasty.
Amazing how many nasty beasts are protected.
Yeah, but nature has been trashed, its hard to deny that. And Christians have been at the fore on that.
Who’s denying it?
As for Christians being”at the forefront” I’m not so certain. Seems to me that apart from Buddhists and Jains, all of homo sapiens is equally culpable.
Same as people: some are mostly nice, some are nasty.
Amazing how many nasty beasts are protected.
Yeah, but nature has been trashed, its hard to deny that. And Christians have been at the fore on that.
Who’s denying it?
As for Christians being”at the forefront” I’m not so certain. Seems to me that apart from Buddhists and Jains, all of homo sapiens is equally culpable.
We have lived in Malta and Cyprus and catching finches and songbirds in nets is still a manly sport, even though it may be illegal. I think this holds true in other parts of the Mediterranean.
I’m very unsentimental about nature but that is simply cruel, possibly worse than shooting.
We have a couple of bully magpies which chase other birds away from the garden.
Every few weeks or so a sparrowhawk swoops in, hides, then pulls apart and eats a pigeon or small bird. One had a blue tit last week. I do find it distressing but understand they have as much right to eat as the rest of us.
We have a couple of bully magpies which chase other birds away from the garden.
Every few weeks or so a sparrowhawk swoops in, hides, then pulls apart and eats a pigeon or small bird. One had a blue tit last week. I do find it distressing but understand they have as much right to eat as the rest of us.
A few years ago we had a family get together interrupted by a sparrowhawk that came out of nowhere, followed by the briefest of flurries of squawking and feathers followed by silence.
We could just about see the sparrowhawk disappear above us.
A pleasantly fresh day in Arkland the Cool, but likely to get hotter towards the weekend.
Pilates was cancelled, as the Torturer is unwell, so that's two sessions I've missed - I'm being a Good Bunny, though, and keeping up with my homework exercises.
Few birds around today - the gulls are sometimes conspicuous by their absence IYSWIM - and I've not seen (or heard) any magpies...a few ducks have been around, though we never seem to see more than three Charlies (drakes) and one Jemima (puddleduck( at a time.
Mixed day here meteorologically: it rained a bit as I was going to work (probably because I didn't take a coat). Apparently it rained a lot just before I left for home, but as I was very near the end of a voice file, I stopped in to finish it, and it has stopped by the time I left.
Supper was pasta with prawns and tomatoes, partly because use-by dates, and partly because I wanted a change from the salads. I'll probably go back to them tomorrow though; I was a bit hot and bothered after cooking!
We have magpies here, but I've not noticed any particular bad behaviour. I once saw a sparrow hawk in our garden when we lived in South London which was a bit of a surprise.
We've actually had some rain which has been most welcome, but it seems likely we're now going to be in for another dry hot spell.
Tomorrow we are supposed to be recreating a council photo from 100 years ago. That one was taken to celebrate 300 years of the mayoralty. Trouble is the call for the photo is right in the middle of the England match and just before a council meeting. Hopefully some of us will turn up and it gets taken.
The sky is very dark this evening- no beautiful sunset- but only a few spots of rain.
I walked into town for the first time in days, got cash, shopped, had my hair done, and later drove to drop off at the laundry a bedspread too big for my washing machine. It felt good to get back to normal.
In the ten years we have been here the number of herring gulls on the roof of the neighbouring flats has clearly increased. Presumably on account of the couple in the bungalow opposite the flats throwing food remnants out on their front lawn every morning. The sight of droves of such big birds descending on one small lawn is a bit alarming.
The company owning the flats have to send men in a cherry-picker along annually to clear the nesting material & guano off the roof.
2 pairs of magpies appear in our garden as soon as the blackbirds, sparrows & starlings nesting in the neighbours' shrubbery start laying their eggs. They keep a sharp watch on the comings & goings of the little birds, trying to locate the nests. I don't think they have had too much success this year, judging by the numbers of juvenile garden birds on our lawn since the rains came.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The eye hospital phoned again today, to offer me an appointment for the actual cataract surgery - in a fortnight. Slightly anxious now, as it not the local hospital, but one in an area we do not know, the other side of the nearby city.
It's still good news, after the long wait since the first one was done.
@sionisais I love rats. They are highly intelligent and very interesting, and fun to watch as they go about their activities (and domestic rats make brilliant pets). There are a lot of rats around here as we are by the river (there are water voles too) and I enjoy seeing them go snif snif snif as they pootle around the vegetable patch in the communal garden. I echo @quetzalcoatl 's comments about it being no wonder that nature is so diminished in the UK and Europe with people being so set against animals doing their natural animal behaviours.
@Heavenlyannie that sounds like a lot of fun! I wish I could do distance learning but unfortunately I'm far too distractible thanks to ADHD- I really need an actual physical classroom. I would have been useless if I had had to do online learning during lockdowns. I hope you really enjoy the course.
Meanwhile, everyone around here is desperate for rain and the stream is looking very low. There might be some on Thursday morning, only for that afternoon to get a high UV rating and back up to 25c or so. We seem to be having another heatwave coming up but fortunately not as bad as the one that just ended.
We're off Rambling in a bit. It isn't supposed to rain, but it is rather cloudy so have packamac just in case. This evening I have a council meeting, which might go on rather a long time, but might be OK. One of the most combative councillors has just told me he's in Spain, so the others might behave themselves too. I'm chairing the meeting and am really not looking forward to it.
I wonder if others will excuse themselves if they are football fans?
I have to keep reminding myself what day it is, as I am not normally free on Wednesdays.
This morning I decided to explore villages just off one of my familiar routes. Unfortunately the first church was closed but there was a notice telling me when it is open. It has some rare stone carvings. The next village has a disused church which is always open, but involves a country lane and a stile, which my knees are not up to today.
I then went to a garden centre but failed to spend any money, despite its various attractions.
I need to do some ironing this afternoon and my daughter has suggested a walk at 5 pm.
New diary day in academic land and this is the trigger for me to do my annual GDPR clear out of student data on my computer. I then did some other work admin while I was in tidying mode. I’m now doing some sewing (hand finishing the binding on some table mats).
New diary day in academic land and this is the trigger for me to do my annual GDPR clear out of student data on my computer. I then did some other work admin while I was in tidying mode. I’m now doing some sewing (hand finishing the binding on some table mats).
Are you a quilter? Mrs Sioni has done any number of quilts and she looks forward to the binding because by then she has had enough of the job.
Yes, they are quilted table mats for Christmas. I haven’t done any quilting for several years as lockdown impacted on my motivation to do hobbies (I developed an ongoing low grade depression and anxiety, on top of my bipolar disorder, which I haven’t completely shaken off). My workload also increased and I became a bit burnt out. But I am making an effort to try to get myself out of the rut and have even reduced my work hours next year (I am employed term time at the university and get paid per module I teach). I have started back with some easy quilting but will do some dressmaking soon.
@sionisais I love rats. They are highly intelligent and very interesting, and fun to watch as they go about their activities (and domestic rats make brilliant pets).
Indeed. We kept pet rats for a number of years and they were a joy. But they are not very long-lived and heartbreak every 18 months-2 years is hard to take. They are also quite high maintenance and there are not many people who are willing to take care of them when you're away.
That is not to say I want wild rats scurrying around my garden or in my house .
We've had a busy couple of days and today was spent with Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling which is always wonderful . The recent heat and a couple of bad nights means that now at 6.45pm it feels like 11pm to me and I shall spend the next 3 hours wondering how soon I can decently crawl into bed.
@Heavenlyannie Mrs Sioni lost her quilting mojo for at least 18 months after I was in hospital for three months. She’s pretty much back on track now and leading some craft work at our church.
These events really knock any creativity and I was no better - I have loads of model railway kits to build which is great therapy, but I have to stir myself.
Another rat lover here, we always had pet rats as children. 🐀 💕
We have Rats in Arkland - there's at least one living in the river-bank just yards from me - but they are unobtrusive, quiet, generally well-behaved neighbours.
Intermittently damp here today, although I managed to avoid it until I was on my way home. The tree outside my window is moving about quite a lot, suggesting it's Rather Windy.
I picked up a couple of corn-cobs in Tessie's and had them for supper, quite appropriately as it's Canada Day, that being where I had the best corn-cobs I've ever tasted. These weren't quite in the same league, but they were perfectly decent, and brought back some nice memories. 🇨🇦
The meeting and photo went well, though there was quite a lot of chaos at the beginning with councillors wanting to watch the end of the England match, the clerk wanting the meeting to start on time and having to fit in the anniversary photo. I'm looking forward to seeing the results. The one for 1926 shows a load of middle class, rather miserable, white men. We're slightly more diverse than that now and I insisted they all look cheerful. We were helped by some delighted England supporters waving at us as they passed through the Market Square that made us all smile.
Another rat lover here, we always had pet rats as children. 🐀 💕
We have Rats in Arkland - there's at least one living in the river-bank just yards from me - but they are unobtrusive, quiet, generally well-behaved neighbours.
Rats living in riverbanks seems so intrinsically correct.
Overcast here in the Wilds of Wiltshire this morning and I'll be heading off shortly for the weekly coffee morning in the village hall.
Comments
@Heavenlyannie even Oxford these doesn't require you to have studied a classical language previously, although it is part of the course. Cambridge has a 4 year course for those without previous classical language study, but only some colleges accept students who have studied Ancient Greek but not Latin for the 3 year course.
At our previous house some years ago we had a blackbird nesting in a tree just outside the study window and I still remember the screams of distress from the parent and her frantic chasing of the magpie as the nest was predated. I know the magpie was just being a magpie but I found it very upsetting.
There was a litter pick here earlier in the month which I would have joined if I could but it fell on a weekend when we were away. I intend to join in with the next one (don't know how often they happen).
We have a busy day ahead, a number of things to do, places to go, people to see, with some time constraints too. I'm sure it'll be fine... just taking it one step at a time Sweet Jesus.
That's an interesting point, which I haven't seen raised before. I think sparrowhawks are less frequent, aren't they? One other point is that magpies tend to take chicks, whereas cats tend to take adults, maybe that is less upsetting. I know in some rural areas, magpies are killed a lot, Larsen traps and so on.
I've just been into town for my weekly planning meeting about up-coming events. I need to have an early lunch and then get back to town as I'm going to the church to meet the judges who have been judging our town for the East Midlands towns in bloom competition, hence the litter picking yesterday. It was a fun event last year and I hope it's the same this year.
I thought research disputes this, that magpies suppress other birds.
Ironically, quite a few gull species are redlisted, that is, they are declining rapidly, not because of humans but other factors.
I’m sure a few species are endangered, but we have plenty of gulls, mostly herring gulls. They don’t have the same bad press as magpies for taking chicks and small mammals, but they do.
I know it’s nature, David Attenborough says so, but I really don’t like magpies. Nor do farmers, for a variety of reasons. Gulls are just flying rats.
Well, herring gulls are one of the latest additions to red lists. I can't remember their population drop, but its substantial. Of course, I adore them!
The Australian magpie is beloved by all ( even in nesting season when the dads can get aggro).
If you’re interested Wikipedia is your friend.
Gulls are quite another story, greedy bullies that they are.
Amazing how many nasty beasts are protected.
Yeah, but nature has been trashed, its hard to deny that. And Christians have been at the fore on that.
Dentist for me then opticians for both of us. My glasses prescription has changed a lot!
Some very welcome rain is pouring down at the moment. ☔
Who’s denying it?
As for Christians being”at the forefront” I’m not so certain. Seems to me that apart from Buddhists and Jains, all of homo sapiens is equally culpable.
We have lived in Malta and Cyprus and catching finches and songbirds in nets is still a manly sport, even though it may be illegal. I think this holds true in other parts of the Mediterranean.
I’m very unsentimental about nature but that is simply cruel, possibly worse than shooting.
Every few weeks or so a sparrowhawk swoops in, hides, then pulls apart and eats a pigeon or small bird. One had a blue tit last week. I do find it distressing but understand they have as much right to eat as the rest of us.
A few years ago we had a family get together interrupted by a sparrowhawk that came out of nowhere, followed by the briefest of flurries of squawking and feathers followed by silence.
We could just about see the sparrowhawk disappear above us.
Pilates was cancelled, as the Torturer is unwell, so that's two sessions I've missed - I'm being a Good Bunny, though, and keeping up with my homework exercises.
Few birds around today - the gulls are sometimes conspicuous by their absence IYSWIM - and I've not seen (or heard) any magpies...a few ducks have been around, though we never seem to see more than three Charlies (drakes) and one Jemima (puddleduck( at a time.
Supper was pasta with prawns and tomatoes, partly because use-by dates, and partly because I wanted a change from the salads. I'll probably go back to them tomorrow though; I was a bit hot and bothered after cooking!
We've actually had some rain which has been most welcome, but it seems likely we're now going to be in for another dry hot spell.
Tomorrow we are supposed to be recreating a council photo from 100 years ago. That one was taken to celebrate 300 years of the mayoralty. Trouble is the call for the photo is right in the middle of the England match and just before a council meeting. Hopefully some of us will turn up and it gets taken.
I walked into town for the first time in days, got cash, shopped, had my hair done, and later drove to drop off at the laundry a bedspread too big for my washing machine. It felt good to get back to normal.
The company owning the flats have to send men in a cherry-picker along annually to clear the nesting material & guano off the roof.
2 pairs of magpies appear in our garden as soon as the blackbirds, sparrows & starlings nesting in the neighbours' shrubbery start laying their eggs. They keep a sharp watch on the comings & goings of the little birds, trying to locate the nests. I don't think they have had too much success this year, judging by the numbers of juvenile garden birds on our lawn since the rains came.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The eye hospital phoned again today, to offer me an appointment for the actual cataract surgery - in a fortnight. Slightly anxious now, as it not the local hospital, but one in an area we do not know, the other side of the nearby city.
It's still good news, after the long wait since the first one was done.
@Heavenlyannie that sounds like a lot of fun! I wish I could do distance learning but unfortunately I'm far too distractible thanks to ADHD- I really need an actual physical classroom. I would have been useless if I had had to do online learning during lockdowns. I hope you really enjoy the course.
I have to keep reminding myself what day it is, as I am not normally free on Wednesdays.
This morning I decided to explore villages just off one of my familiar routes. Unfortunately the first church was closed but there was a notice telling me when it is open. It has some rare stone carvings. The next village has a disused church which is always open, but involves a country lane and a stile, which my knees are not up to today.
I then went to a garden centre but failed to spend any money, despite its various attractions.
I need to do some ironing this afternoon and my daughter has suggested a walk at 5 pm.
Are you a quilter? Mrs Sioni has done any number of quilts and she looks forward to the binding because by then she has had enough of the job.
That is not to say I want wild rats scurrying around my garden or in my house
We've had a busy couple of days and today was spent with Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling which is always wonderful
These events really knock any creativity and I was no better - I have loads of model railway kits to build which is great therapy, but I have to stir myself.
We have Rats in Arkland - there's at least one living in the river-bank just yards from me - but they are unobtrusive, quiet, generally well-behaved neighbours.
We also have Cats and Foxes...
I picked up a couple of corn-cobs in Tessie's and had them for supper, quite appropriately as it's Canada Day, that being where I had the best corn-cobs I've ever tasted. These weren't quite in the same league, but they were perfectly decent, and brought back some nice memories. 🇨🇦
Overcast here in the Wilds of Wiltshire this morning and I'll be heading off shortly for the weekly coffee morning in the village hall.