Magpie Catches a Ride From a Deer

MAGPIE CATCHES A RIDE FROM A DEER
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
A curious magpie landed on the back of a fallow deer as if riding on a chilly morning in a moment of unusual harmony.
In the early morning mist of Richmond Park, London, photographer Max Ellis, 62, an illustrator from London, UK, captured a striking interaction between a buck and a magpie.
Ellis, who has photographed animals for over 25 years, shared that birds like magpies and jackdaws often perch on deer throughout the year sometimes to remove parasites, other times to collect fur for nesting material.
The series shows a playful yet tense moment as the magpie lands on the deer before being abruptly ejected when it oversteps its welcome.
Max said: “During the year magpies and jackdaws often land on the deer, drawn by the insects flying around them and picking off parasites.
"As the deer's’ winter coats are shed, they make excellent nest-lining materials.
“I always enjoy watching the interaction between the two animals, which varies quite a lot.
" If the bird is ridding the deer of ticks and biting flies, they will tolerate quite a lot of personal space invasion.
" However, the clean-up crew sometimes goes a bit far and can be rudely ejected, which is what’s happening here.
“I particularly liked the contrast of the black and white feathers against the misty background and the delicate pale colours of the buck. It was a nice treat catching the take-off.”
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