Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). A youngster. Been at the ground bird table! I love them - they are such intelligent, playful birds. They've a bad rep though - part of their very varied diet is young birds. But then most species of corvid do that. They are blamed for songbird number decline, but research done by RSPB and BTO found this is not so. So don't trust all the magpie-haters on social media!

Magpie (Pica pica) (19/09/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). A youngster. Been at the ground bird table! I love them - they are such intelligent, playful birds. They've a bad rep though - part of their very varied diet is young birds. But then most species of corvid do that. They are blamed for songbird number decline, but research done by RSPB and BTO found this is not so. So don't trust all the magpie-haters on social media!

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Fascinated by its reflection in the garden ornament! They are exceptionally curious birds - like all corvids, unusually intelligent.

Magpie (Pica pica) (16/06/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Fascinated by its reflection in the garden ornament! They are exceptionally curious birds - like all corvids, unusually intelligent.

Magpie (Pica pica) (19/09/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden).

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Its the male that is largely responsible for collecting nest materials and both sexes construct the nest. The fledglings hang around with mum and dad for a couple months and stay close until the onset of Autumn, even winter.

Magpie (Pica pica) (19/09/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Its the male that is largely responsible for collecting nest materials and both sexes construct the nest. The fledglings hang around with mum and dad for a couple months and stay close until the onset of Autumn, even winter.

Magpie (Pica pica) (19/09/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden).

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Defo a youngster looking at its rather bedraggled apperance and more brown on the head and neck. Loving the ground blend that I put down.

Magpie (Pica pica) (19/09/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Defo a youngster looking at its rather bedraggled apperance and more brown on the head and neck. Loving the ground blend that I put down.

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). The same youngster as the previous image. They tend to be a lot less nervous than their elders.

Magpie (Pica pica) (19/09/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). The same youngster as the previous image. They tend to be a lot less nervous than their elders.

Magpie (Pica pica) (19/09/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). The same youngster as the previous image.

Magpies (Pica pica) (17/07/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden).

Magpie (Pica pica) (02/07/2006) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Absolutely stunning colours in the sunlight.

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Close-up of the colours - the tail is really rainbow-coloured towards the end.

Magpie (Pica pica) (02/07/2006) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). Close-up of the colours - the tail is really rainbow-coloured towards the end.

Magpie (Pica pica) (06/09/2006) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden).

Magpies courting (Pica pica) (13/05/2006) RSPB Pulborough Brooks. Male performing for the female who doesn't look very interested!

Magpies courting (Pica pica) (13/05/2006) RSPB Pulborough Brooks. This is a male performing for the female.

Magpies (Pica pica) (16/06/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). This next few images are a couple magpies playing.

Magpies (Pica pica) (16/06/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden).

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). The same pair playing - this image reminds me how intelligent - and inquisitive and playful therefore - corvids are.d

Magpies (Pica pica) (16/06/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in the garden). The same pair playing - this image reminds me how intelligent - and inquisitive and playful therefore - corvids are.d