'JAYSWINGING': THE JAY, THE FEEDER & THE MAGPIES...

 Jayswinging…

It dropped onto the uncut lawn,

A sprawl of dull, pastel pink, a keen eye

And such a flash of blue

Beneath wings of black and white:

It looked up, its gaze drawn

To a swinging feeder, awry

And its ardour for sustenance grew

For the sunflower seeds packed tight…

It flapped upwards a metre or so,

Wing feathers slashing for balance

And clawed the circular rail

To feed with some difficulty:

It clung, it thrashed to and fro,

Its colours vibrant in its resilience

And then it dropped with twirling tail

To rest from the gymnastic activity…

Then two screaming Magpies swooped

To scatter the unsuspecting Jay,

Chasing it in a spectacular flight,

Harassment, bullying, an affray…

Pete Ray

7th October 2021

Remarkable gymnastics by a Jay in the garden, 6th October…