Acrobatics

[nightshade]

Watching the birds feeding this am, a charm of magpies appeared and began to search through the flowers fluttering and pouncing,suddenly confronting a fellow leaping into the air in suprise and tumbling as they scrapped over the affront.
then they noticed the fat feeder,the feeder hangs in a tree on a slender branch
and is of the double sided variety
with one accord they flew at it hanging and bouncing not quite getting a purchase
(i laughed till tears rolled down my cheeks)then they actualy got into a huddle
and looked at it.
to my amazement one bird took up position on a nearby stouter branchand extended a claw a young bird flew up from the ground and after a couple of attempts seized the claw inverted itself and caught the feeder and began to take the fat and insect mix!this was repeated until all had fed
no wonder this bird is on the increase

[nightshade]

JUST AN UPDATE ,there are now four jackdaws performing the same (with variations)acrobatics on the fat feeder along with inter-tribal skirmishes

[Tinkerbell]

We had sparrows on the spikey flowers of our Ligularia (4ft) last week. Attracted by seeds or insects, the higher they went up the spike, the more it bent over. As another sparrow landed, more weight was added. However, as one then took off, the spike shot back up, propelling the remaining sparrow with it. Like you, nightshade, I was in stitches. One of those camera moments again, but if I'd approached the entertainment would have ceased.