[keithric]

Am visiting Kelowna again, and thoroughly enjoying the opportunities to see something different. I'm fascinated by Black-billed Magpies and plan to study them as well as I can. In this area, they're not only as common as crows, they're pretty much as vilified as crows are at the Coast. Here's a link to an excellent story from Edmonton this summer that helps to explain the love-hate attitude many birders have towards the BBMA:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/ ... ederated=1

And here are some of my first shots, not the quality I'm hoping to reach, but a start:

Working a field near Munson Pond:

Black-billed Magpie - 1

Taking a bath in Mission Creek: a series:
This guy was across the creek, so these are heavily cropped shots....

Black-billed Magpie


Black-billed Magpie


Black-billed Magpie


Black-billed Magpie
"Hey, can't a guy take a dip around here without some paparazzo takin' his photograph??"

Hope you enjoyed the colour.... I am determined to get better quality photos!!

[birdergirl]

I love magpies too I know many view them as pests and sadly many shoot them too.

I love the beautiful colours in these birds and their beautiful tails!

Your photos are great especially the one showing off its stunning tail.

Thanks for the link glad you are having fun in beautiful OK.

Cheers.

[nickinthegarden]

Keith, thank you for your posting. I had not realized just how long the magpie's tail was or that there was some other color to their feathers other than black and white. I look forward to your future postings of this interesting bird.

[Guyzerr]

Love Magpies and you did a nice job capturing them. They can be hard to get in a natural setting.

It's unfortunate people think of them as pests, along with crows, ravens and gulls, because they clean up an awful lot of garbage that humans discard where ever they want.

[wendylou]

Keith, you really picked up the colors in your creek/bathing shots, so beautiful. Have fun with those birds! I saw one south of Peachland once that was huge.

[featherweight]

Nice series Keith, I find Magpies notoriously difficult to get good shots of as well.

[keithric]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I'm still optimistic that I can do better.
I'm also on the lookout for good chances with interior Steller's Jays.

[Cjacques294]

Good photos Keith and interesting article. Love the magpie but have not been able to get any good shots.