Bullying magpies

[MEgirl]

Having had the run of the garden and the neighbourhood since moving in, poor Apollo is now being harrased by a pair of magpies that have taken up residence at the back of the garden. He's taking it all with good grace but looks a little down in the dumps now that he's no longer king if his own space.

Same thing here, his teeth were chattering away at them, but made him skulk around for a bit. The black birds have a go at him too.

I have seen magpies dive bombing my neighbours cat when protecting their nest. Maybe they have babies and will stop when the chicks have fledged.

snap here, although not resident, not seen them in a while. tbf we've had the evidence that he's nest-raided at least once so it seems like 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

I see him very occasionally with a very small bird. He always gets a telling off which he ignores. He's never gone for a large bird. He also never climbs the tree though he sometimes gets on the the shed roof. Fingers crossed they come to some sort of an accommodation. He sits under the patio table or the apple tree while they circle. He never tries to retaliate.

I've just been out in the garden and the black birds were harassing me

Oh noooo, Vitalogy. Hold your ground!

I finished with what I was doing and went in, they were going crazy! Protecting their babies.

And they are back. Pot thing hasn't had a moment's peace all day. He hasn't hunted any birds since last year. I don't think he can as he's got too big (our fault) and is too lazy. He's really unhappy being pestered all of the time.