Maggie
Maggie is Aussie short for Magpie. This one on the water tank, nice background, light was good – soft. … A shot in two or three hundred. Then a fellow at the market asked if I had one. So it got printed, glad it did.
They don’t stop still for long, always bobbing about. Hard black and bright white, difficult to get acceptable exposure. … The other side of the bright red eye, an injured eye.
Two in a row. Something must have grabbed its attention, to keep it still for more than one acceptable shot in quick succession.
Love the smokey backgrounds on these – no post processing needed. … Know what you want and shoot for that, usually by eliminating what you don’t want – a long procession of redundancies. Such is life.
This pied magpie is sometimes on the stool outside my door in the mornings, waiting for a bit of my breakfast maybe. Occasionally warbling a complex song to the sky.
I consider the magpie an intelligent creature, communicative to people. Not that other birds aren’t intelligent, but in their own and different ways. All are embraced in this space.
There’s a society of birds where I live. Different tribes or families with their distinct sensible form and character, behaviours and place in the pecking order of things. And whatever the conflict, they never go to war.
It’s interesting to watch them go about their business, and how they sometimes make my business theirs. When I’m eating for instance, but not only. They do like fresh water, as the place heats up.
In the breeding season the Maggie can be threatening to some people, though not to me. I think they can pick those who can be harassed, and harass them. It’s the vibe.
So watch out, if you’re afraid of the Maggie he’ll know. If he comes for you be contrary, look up and raise your arm up to the sky. That will confound him.
Or make a friend of him, or her, at other times.
One of the colourful characters of Oz.
© Mark Berkery … Click on those pictures for a closer look …
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* If you’re interested in buying a picture or two see this page – Pictures of Bees and Frogs for sale.
Nature's Place 
Beautiful pictures! The first and the last shot seem to be particularly personal. I like the way it looks, so cute! And you are right, the background is perfect. I made friends with a pair of crows (Corvus) here, giving them some walnuts from time to time :-)
Thanks Almuth. Good food on occasion is a good way into the heart and mind of a wild animal.
Beautiful!
Thanks. :-)
The last picture is a wonderful portret of the of the “maggie”.
Have a lovely weekend an greets :-)
1st one is my pick. Thanks Rudi.
In fact, all pics are great Mark but 1 and 4 are my favorites ;-)