tinbum71 Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 I was out popping rooks with the mossy when I heard a magpie call from a bush to my left. I saw movement, lined up, and a wierd looking critter popped out. It sounded like a maggie, flew like a maggie, but it was as if it was in negative. The bits that should've been black were white and vica-versa! I'll let it go for now until I find out what it is, but can anyone here help? Could it be an albino of some sort? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 a pied-magpie maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Bit less scrumpy perhaps me old beauty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Sounds like a Piemag to me, a close relative of the Ohmegoolies bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 That's it, off to the field! Pics to follow?? (Scrumpy's all gone, none more for 2 weeks!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 (edited) funny you should that,my mate reckons he seen a magpie type bird in his garden the other day,and he said it was strange looking ,more white than black,but he lives in wales,and he said it made some funny noises too,i told him it was probably an escaped parot of some sort Edited June 9, 2008 by codling99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Just been out again. Met the farmers son out with his S410 shooting. 1st thing he said was "have you seen those wierd white birds. They look like mapies in negative"!!?? They were his exact words. Apparently he's seen 3 together. There's now a mini comp to see who can get one first. I will keep you posted! BTW He put a couple of maggies he'd shot out for decoys and we attracted a nice condition vixen in. Well...... I say good condition. It has a few holes in it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staglioni Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 I once saw one in sheffield and i was sober hope ya find out what it was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 (edited) Considering where you are...... it is a summer visitor...? I'll check my bird book for foreign birds Yes I know some jokes will follow this!!! go on then ,,,,,,,,,,,, Edited June 9, 2008 by malkiserow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Considering where you are...... it is a summer visitor...? I'll check my bird book for foreign birds Yes I know some jokes will follow this!!! go on then ,,,,,,,,,,,, Ummmm............. Well, I think I saw Ulkrika Johnson a week or two back. Is she foreign? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Considering where you are...... it is a summer visitor...? I'll check my bird book for foreign birds Yes I know some jokes will follow this!!! go on then ,,,,,,,,,,,, Without the Jokes - could be a pale hooded crow - similar size to maggy with grey body black head wings and tail. Common on the continent and in parts of north west Ireland, but visitors in other areas, My 2peneth. D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Considering where you are...... it is a summer visitor...? I'll check my bird book for foreign birds Yes I know some jokes will follow this!!! go on then ,,,,,,,,,,,, Without the Jokes - could be a pale hooded crow - similar size to maggy with grey body black head wings and tail. Common on the continent and in parts of north west Ireland, but visitors in other areas, My 2peneth. D With 2 of us after them we should have an answer soon. Only problem is it makes calls and flies like a magpie, not a crow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 I've had a look through my foreign birds book and really cannot see that it would be a summer visitor as nothing is "like" a magpie or would be mistaken for one. So a genetic mutant magpie it is then ......... Photos (alive) would be very good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 (edited) Pics (dead, sorry) supplied. Mark, the farmers son, shot it this evening. It's deffo a magpie, just a bit different. There are 2 more, should make a good study for taxidermy methinks!! Good shot Mark, get yourself joined onto the forum! Edited June 12, 2008 by tinbum71 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Here's another pic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 looks young or you have huge hands!!!! with reference to your other BIG post - Mark doesn't have an air rifle does he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 (edited) looks young or you have huge hands!!!! with reference to your other BIG post - Mark doesn't have an air rifle does he? He certainly does! He was with me the evening one of the "alleged" occurences occured. We were just out waiting for this critter to happen by. I fired 2 rounds that evening, both of which landed in a fox! And yes, it is young. They are this years hatch, we'd've noticed 'em if they'd been around before! Edited June 12, 2008 by tinbum71 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 It is very interesting. thanks good luck with the gun return etc Malk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter-peter Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 SORRY. your wrong its a dustoodle bird, they fly round in ever diminishing circles until they dissapear up their own posterectamy. bill oddie would know he's been dissapearing up his for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 (edited) SORRY. your wrong its a dustoodle bird, they fly round in ever diminishing circles until they dissapear up their own posterectamy.bill oddie would know he's been dissapearing up his for years. Oh how I wish that were so! Does he think 'cos he has pubes 'round his mouth, it gives him the right to talk like a cu.................? In fact, do you think I ought to post it to the Odious one? Does anyone have his address? Edited June 12, 2008 by tinbum71 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 It's not a different species - definitely a Magpie. It's either partially albino (Leucistic I think they call it) or otherwise a bit of a freak. Sounds like there was a nest full of them round your way if there's been a few seen. Happens in quite a few bird species, i've heard of it with Blackbirds, Starlings, Crows and Sparrows to name a few. At least you've proved that you're not barking mad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 I have seen some like that in my garden but they looked more like rooks with white bits. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 At least you've proved that you're not barking mad I want a bit of paper with that on, then it'd be official! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA Shaun Posted June 13, 2008 Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 Looks a bit like an Aussie magpie? http://users.mcmedia.com.au/~stocky/images/Magpie.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubix Posted June 13, 2008 Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 Very interesting. Nature throws up random genetic variations all the time to test which ones offer an evolutionary advantage. Clearly the 'white' magpie is one genetic variation which will not work as they stand out a mile and already predators (you!) have started picking them off. However - if we were up near the arctic circle, or at a high altitude, that particular genetic variation would have offered a distinct advantage to them and nautrarl selection wuold have favoured that strain as opposed to the normal black one. Nature nearly got it right in this case but just not far enough north, or high enough up, but this will be added to nature's list of evolutionary dead ends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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