Cat among the magpies

Our young cat, Liluś, brought by Moni from Łódź last spring, is keen to get out into the wilds to hone her hunting skills. She will take any opportunity to climb trees, and twice has had to be rescued from one, having climbed too high. Today a cherry tree full of magpies proved a fertile hunting ground for young Liluś. The four magpies (count 'em!) were completely relaxed about having this predator sharing their tree with them. They laughed, cackled and provoked the cat, which could stand no more teasing -

- so up the trunk of the tree she climbed (below left). The magpies found this hugely enjoyable, and continued cackling (especially the one on the top left). Liluś continued her ascent - the birds felt not remotely threatened. They flew around a bit, then settled back where they had come from. Crestfallen, Liluś slinked down the tree and jumped off the fence into the wet snow beneath.

Reminded me of a favourite BBC cartoon show, Roobarb and Custard...

Photos taken from bedroom window with Nikkor 80-400mm lens, now permanently attached to my Nikon D80, which celebrates its sixth birthday today.

This time two years ago:
My Nikon D80 four years on

This time four years ago:
Nikon D80 two years on

This time five years ago:
Nikon D80 one year on

Birds of omen

One for sorrow. The magpie, traditionally considered in Britain (and indeed north-west Europe) a bird of omen. In England, I've met otherwise rational and intelligent people who will make the sign of the cross on seeing a solitary magpie or utter phrases to ward off any evil that might result from such a sighting. No other bird is so deeply associated with portent as the magpie. Above: This young specimen sits on the tree outside my bedroom window.

Two for joy, perched on the same tree. Female in foreground, male behind her. Sighting a pair of magpies is supposed to bring good luck. Indeed, the variety of English folk rhymes that attribute other happenings with sightings of multiples of magpies (see here). But the 'one for sorrow, two for joy' seems to be a constant.

One could try to give an explanation for why people devised the notion that a pair of magpies brings good luck while a lone one brings bad luck. "Please, accept the mystery".

This time last year:
Yes it does matter who you vote for

This time two years ago:
Poland could do with some more mountains

This time three years ago:
Warmth of the Sun - the Beach Boys and Noctilucence

This time four years ago:
Polish roads that look like America