Magpie Nest

 This beautiful creation is the work of a pair of Magpies. They had carefully made this nest in a conifer tree at the edge of  Crafty Green Boyfriend's mother's garden. I even watched them carrying some of the larger twigs into the tree. But then a couple of days ago the nest fell out of the conifer, landing on top of the eating apple tree in the garden. Crafty Green Boyfriend then removed it from the apple tree and placed it on the garden bench. The local fox has been playing with some of the twigs in the nest, but still, you can see it is a wonderful creation. 

a closer look shows the different layers to the nest, with the lining being made from very fine vegetation

 I hope the Magpies are able to make another nest in which to raise their young, though no doubt the other birds in the neighbourhood would be pleased to not have another generation of Magpies in the area to potentially steal their eggs ...