A loud thud on the path in front of me, this afternoon, was made by a Woodpigeon squab, ejected from its nest in the branches above. The culprit, a Magpie, flew down and resumed its attack on the bird before I disturbed it. Unfortunately the chick, still warm, was in its death throes and died as I tried to pick it up and put it out of reach. Its head had been badly cut by the Magpie, but I suspect the real problem was the fall. Nature red in tooth and claw indeed.