Pretty-Feathered Jay

This jay is a regular visitor to the front garden. They're shy, secretive birds and not that easy to capture. I managed a shot this afternoon when I was out there shooting planes.

Unlike other members of the crow family they're quite colourful. This is how John Clare puts it in his Birds' Lament.

Oh, says the pretty-feathered jay,
Now my love is fled away
For the memory of my dear
A feather of each sort I'll wear. 

...and this is the Corvids' verse

Oh, says the rook, and eke the crow,
The reason why in black we go--
Because our love has us forsook,
So pity us, poor crow and rook.