Hoopoe

This hoopoe (Upupa epops) has been seen around our area and late this afternoon it suddenly appeared in our garden.

You cannot imagine our delight at seeing it.

The bird spent a good 30 minutes digging in the lawn with that incredible beak. It then reacted to a marauding magpie, and its majestic comb was raised in a defensive attitude.

Finally two magpies scared it off and the magic spell was broken

So happy to see it.