Magpie photographed in Saltaire. I had been trying to take a decent photo of a magpie for some time but they are quite elusive birds, go anywhere near one with a camera, take the lens cover off and look up just as bird flies off.
Magpies are common in European Folklore with various superstitions surrounding it.
In Britain and Ireland a widespread traditional rhyme with various regional variations is quite well known....
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.
When I was a boy magpies were by no means as common as today, hence the additional mostly forgotten remainder of the verse. It was common to greet a solitary magpie "hello mr magpie".
Eight for a wish
Nine for a kiss
Ten for a bird that you won't want to miss.
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