But for some chance sighting, I might still be wondering how I come to have tea light appearing in my garden.
I’m not sure of the exact guilty party, but I suspect the magpies that seem to have declared some sort of war on me to be the source.
I used to wonder where banging noises came from inside my house, and had once been concerned that it was some tactic by individuals to get me to open my door and come outside (just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you), but I never found anyone nearby, even if I watched for a while afterwards.
Then, I heard the same banging, but clearly from the wall of the room I was in, and headed to the window. Not sure what I expected to see, but had not anticipated the sight of a magpie clinging on the roughcasting, and banging away on the wall like a woodpecker!
I’ve since spotted them doing this on a number of occasions, and arriving carrying various objects in their beaks.
That said, I’ve seen birds like gulls and flying rats (pigeons) arriving and departing with assorted food, sometime even whole rolls they’ve found somewhere.
And that’s why I wasn’t too puzzled when I started finding the odd tea light lying around, since I don’t use them.
I’m guessing the magpies grab them because the thick tinfoil containers are shiny, while the other have a go because of the wax, which they peck out of the base.
This pair is currently moving around the back garden, one fairly fresh, and one which is now empty.
Secret Scotland 