Heron in the ash tree being bombed by the magpies

I was surprised when I looked up from my new desk on the dining room table to see a heron perching in the ash tree once again. It wasn't long before the magpies (we have about nine of them in the local back gardens) landed close by the heron and started to pester it. Many birds use this part of the tree and now that the leaves have gone it is even more of a vantage point, which is why I think the heron likes it, as it can look down and along the line of gardens.

There were three magpies at this stage, bustling around the heron and as you can see spreading their wings to bomb it. Another one was pecking at its feet. It wasn't long before the heron flew off, but not without taking aim at a magpie perched on a branch right in front of it. It headed off back down the valley to wards the river which is only about three hundred yards away and probably provides a more peaceful habitat.