One’s for sorrow

There’s a Magpie on a roof on the industrial estate nearby. It’s been busy tearing the moss off it. I’m not sure whether it’s looking for food or nesting material.

Magpie - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It is that time of year, after all.

Magpie - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It’s hard to get a decent view of it:

Magpie - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I’d love to get some good photographs of them flying with nesting material but this is the only one I got before my stomach called me away.

Magpie - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Now I’ve finished watching the birds I don’t need to listen out for them, so I put my headphones in for a spine-shivering musical moment on my walk home. It’s The Unthanks and their album Mount the Air. It’s when Magpie comes on that I stop to listen.

“The priest, he says we’re wicked
For to worship the Devil’s bird. 
Ah, but we respect the Old Ways,
And we disregard his word.
For we know they rest uneasy,
As we slumber in the night.
And we’ll always leave out a little bit of meat
For the bird that’s black and white.”

I’m not fit to cross roads in this state. Here they are singing on Later With Jools Holland:

Do check out their album if you can. The northern accents, breathy vocals and sparse arrangements are a delight.


Here it is on Amazon.

I had a cup of tea with traybakes and fancies with The Unthanks sisters before they gave us an impromptu clog dance at the Orkney Folk Festival. It was fabulous.

“Two’s for joy.”

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