Our little Cavachon had Pancreatitis before Christmas vet bill came to £4500. Fortunately Pet Plan paid out.

Hello folks

Meet Sergio. Sergio is only kind-of a pet. He shows up on the kitchen window sometimes with a few friends expecting a couple of pieces of dog food.

Sergio is an Australian Magpie, a much loved bird species in this country. Described as one of Australia's most accomplished songbirds, the Australian magpie has an array of complex vocalisations. It is considered to be highly intelligent bird, exhibiting complex cognitive abilities and social behaviors. I know that Sergio plays mind games with me over food and usually wins.

The Australian Magpie is quite distinct genetically from the Eurasian Magpie which is the species one would see in the UK.

Webbo

These ones attack you!

Occasionally during breeding season. Some magpies. A few of them don't like cyclists, joggers, and dogs near their nests so will do a bit of swooping. Understandable! Sergio doesn't attack me as he knows full well which side of his bread is buttered.

Webbo

One attacked me as I was walking into work one day, as if walking into work wasn't bad enough!

Quote from: Bealman on May 28, 2025, 09:34:58 AMOne attacked me as I was walking into work one day, as if walking into work wasn't bad enough!

Work? You've got a good memory

  

Apparently, magpies have good memories of human faces. What did you do, George, to deserve being swooped?

Quote from: Bealman on May 28, 2025, 09:34:58 AMOne attacked me as I was walking into work one day, as if walking into work wasn't bad enough!

Seems fair...

Just a quick picture of Bobby in relaxed mode

What a lovely cat!

And very similar markings to Poppy, see here in supervisory mode...





With all good wishes.

John and Poppy

Eeek, John, that looks like a fiddle yard and Kato track! What's going on?

Quote from: Bealman on July 28, 2025, 08:50:06 AMEeek, John, that looks like a fiddle yard and Kato track! What's going on?

Worrying 

Quote from: port perran on July 28, 2025, 10:11:06 AM

Quote from: Bealman on July 28, 2025, 08:50:06 AMEeek, John, that looks like a fiddle yard and Kato track! What's going on?

Worrying 

Sorry - pure laziness on my part. I used the first suitable photograph of Poppy I found.

The layout seen is the Table-Top Railway Mark III. Kato track, storage yard and branchline from a station, loosely based on Alne.

It was far too big and was soon replaced by Mark IV - the first of the Poppinghams. Which, at 48" x 30", was also far too big.

Poppy prefers a smaller-sized layout, presumably because she is a smaller-sized cat. She says this one (Mark VII) is "purrfect":-





With all good wishes.

John