The jackdaws of halloween

Now that the leaves are falling we get to see the birds in the trees again. Some have flown and left for warmer climes but not our jackdaws, they are staying to keep watch over things.

I often see them perched together on the top of this particular tree, a big lime on Midgehole Road. Today their dark silhouettes next to the orange leaves and against a brooding sky, looked so striking and sat on the wall and watched them for ages. 

I noticed they were sitting in pairs, watching the world go by together,

nuzzling each other

and doing some synchronised grooming!

I decided that if I was going to a halloween party this year (I'm relieved that I'm not) I would like to dress up as a jackdaw. Some autumn leaves would have to feature somewhere in the outfit too as they are such good halloween colours altogether, maybe a headdress of twigs and leaves?

Look at that beady eye? What have they seen over the years? Are they sitting on top of the trees today listening for the distant cackle of their ancestors while the veil is thin?

All of a sudden something spooked them and they all took to the air, their 'jack jack jack' echoing across the valley.

The halloween spell was broken.