Magpie softening bread in water

Magpies are birds of the crow family and are rather intelligent. This one found some hard bread and flew to a water barrel and dunked the bread in the water to soften it.

I've also seen crows dunking hard bread in puddles of water.

Magpies are omnivores and scavengers. This year I have frequently seen one hanging around as it knows that people put out food for the foxes and squirrels. Like the foxes, it recognises the sound of a window being opened, which could mean food is on its way.

I normally only see one at a time, despite the children's nursery rhyme :
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.
Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss,
Ten for a bird,
You must not miss

I've frequently seen crows going through the rubbish bins outside Sainsbury's and McDonalds. They methodically take out each bag, checking it for food.