Ivy berries

Today's the day ……………….. to keep away from

'One man's meat is another man's poison'  - so they say.

In this case, we're talking about birds and ivy berries which are an essential food source for thrushes, blackcaps, woodpigeons and blackbirds.  The high fat content of the berries is a nutritious food resource.

They are poisonous for humans though -  although because they taste so bitter, it's rare that a person would eat enough to become poisoned. They contain oxalates, needle-like crystals that cause pain and swelling in the lips, face, tongue, and skin.

They make a good picture though - glowing in the late sunshine ……………...