As I mentioned in the previous post we they have a family of Magpies in the Mencap garden.
During the summer one of the first jobs of the day was often to chase them out of the large polytunnel that the group uses as a workshop. There was nothing we could see that would have been attractive to them, and they don’t seem to nee the shelter or they would still be there.
It’s a mystery, as are the claw marks in the polythene covers. Some of the group are pointing accusing fingers at the Magpies. The scratches are fairly low down, which makes the Magpies unlikely culprits. Anyway, why break in when they know how to use the doors (which are still being left open at the moment).
Ready for mischief
Other fingers are pointing at the badgers.
The main problem with this is that nobody has seen any badgers. It’s also unlikely they could get past the fence. Their normal method of attack is to charge things until they give way. I’ve seen them smash through fence panels on TV, and I’ve seen the results of them charging into chicken wire on a free range poultry farm.
They have one thought in their head and, as far I know, no feeling in their noses. After one attempt they leave a conical bulge. I imagine that it is the shape of a badger’s face. A couple more tries and they burst through. Unlikely as it seems, this is true and I have seen it. Unfortunately it was in the days before digital cameras.
The farmer who had sited his wire across a badger path without realising it soon got tired of mending it and inserted a door, which he opened every night and closed again every morning. The badgers were happy, the farmer had no mending to do and the chickens were free to range.
All of this suggests that if it was badgers, there wouldn’t be claw marks, just badger-sized holes.
So, not Magpies and not badgers. The mystery deepens.
Sentry duty
Meanwhile, back at the Magpies, they were round again this morning, parading around, setting look-outs in treetops and looking for mischief. Unlike earlier in the year, when they stripped two cherry trees, there’s not much for them to do at the moment.
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I have heard of feral raccoons in England. It sounds like their handiwork. Might also possibly be foxes?
Probably foxes looking for worms.
I thought the only raccoons in UK were in badly-researched Disney films…
See this BBC link:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-39948024
Interesting, though we don’t really need them. I see there were several references to escaped raccoons. 🙂
Hopefully they will not get established, since they are not native. They are omnivorous. It is sad people make pets of exotic wild animals and then dump them, or allow escapes.
Yes, people take these things so casually – no regard for the welfare of their animals or the damage escapees can do.
Ah, cherish those magpies. So few people do. They are fascinating to watch. I give mine little test with food as a reward. They are good at puzzles!
They are an interesting bunch – particularly the one that generally goes round on its own and does a good impression of a sulky teenager. 🙂
How very mysterious! It could be the beast (cat? fox?) on the outside is being taunted by the magpies on the inside. Sharp claws or just scrapes by a hoof? (deer?)
Seem to be three claw marks. I suspect foxes as they can really make a mess looking for worms. We;re going to try a natural repellent using our home grown chillis.
A good idea!
I have them sometimes. 🙂
😉
I’ve always loved badgers and now I love them all the more. How fascinating that they will bludgeon anything in their path.
The TV programme showed how a developer built an estate across a badger path. Night after night they smashed the fence until the homeowners gave in.
It seems some of the setts have been there since ancient times and badgers do not deviate. 🙂
Never mind ‘stubborn as a mule’!
🙂
Better than any photos of magpies I have ever managed. We haven’t seen evidence of our Big Beast for a while…………
I thought about the Big Beast when I was writing the post. 🙂
These are probably my best magpie shots as they tend to be wary birds and my camera doesn’t cope well with the black and white.
A case for Maigret perhaps.
Yes, he would seem an appropriate investigator. 🙂