Tag Archives: robin

Conversation with robins: 3

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in birds, nature, nature photography

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

Forest Farm Nature Reserve, a few days ago

160215 robin conversation (1)

Me: ‘Hello, robin. Nice to see you again.’
Robin: ‘Hello, lady. It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?’

160215 robin conversation (2)

Me: ‘It sure is. And before you ask, I’ve run out of bird seed.’
Robin: ‘Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???’

160215 robin conversation (3)

Me: ‘I’ve been walking for a couple of hours, and I’ve already given my seed to other birds. I’m sorry.’
Robin: ‘But it’s cold and I’m starving and I’m such a cute little robin.’

160215 robin conversation (4)

Me: ‘Yes, you are. And I’m sorry you missed out.’
Robin: ‘But I haven’t eaten anything all day.’

160215 robin conversation (5)

Me: ‘You pooped! Right in the middle of our chat, you pooped!’
Robin: ‘So? A bird’s gotta do what a bird’s gotta do!’

160215 robin conversation (6)

Me: ‘I guess you had had something to eat after all.’
Robin: ‘Oh … well … maybe something small … hours ago.’

Birding at Forest Farm

29 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by in birds, nature, nature photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Forest Farm Nature Reserve, just north of Cardiff, is one of my favourite places, for a wander alongside the old Glamorgan Canal, for ferreting amongst the undergrowth for fungi, for enjoying the fresh air and an invigorating walk, and for photographing the local birds. With three bird hides and numerous informal feeding places scattered throughout the reserve, it’s almost impossible not to see birds. Mostly, they’re the familiar woodland and garden birds but Forest Farm is also well known for those extremely skilful anglers, the gorgeous kingfishers.

Here are some of the more common birds I photographed yesterday.

160131 1 nuthatch

Mr Greedy, the nuthatch

160131 2 dunnock

Mr Hungry, the dunnock

160131 3 great tit

Mr Handsome, the great tit

160131 4 robin

Mr Grumpy, the robin

160131 5 great tit

Mr Scruffy, the great tit

Conversations with robins: 2

27 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in birds, nature, nature photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Roath Park Wild Gardens, after a drenching from Storm Jonas …

160128 robin (1)

Me: ‘Hello, robin. How are you doing today?’
Robin: ‘I’m a bit hungry, lady. Do you have food for me?’

160128 robin (2)

Me: ‘No, sorry, I haven’t been to the shop to buy more birdseed yet.’
Robin: ‘Well, that’s a bit slack, especially when you expect us robins to pose for your photos.’

160128 robin (3)

Me: ‘Yes, I know. I’m sorry. I could scuff up some leaves for you. There are probably plenty of worms under there.’
Robin: ‘That would be good. Your shoes are already covered in dirt so a little more wouldn’t hurt.’

160128 robin (4)

Me: ‘It is rather muddy on these paths after all the rain that came with Storm Jonas.’
Robin: ‘It wasn’t very nice for us robins with all that wind, either. But thank you for the leaf scuffing.’

160128 robin (5)

Me: ‘I’ll leave you to fly down and look for worms, then. See you again soon.’
Robin: ‘Tra la la la la.’

Conversations with robins: 1

20 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in birds, nature, nature photography

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Forest Farm Nature Reserve, a very chilly day after a heavy frost …

robin1

Me: ‘Hello, robin. You look like you’re feeling the cold today.’
Robin: ‘Yes, I could do with some food.’

robin2

Me: ‘What a little cutie, you are.’
Robin: ‘I’d look even cuter with food.’

robin3

Me: ‘I’m sorry I don’t have any food for you today.’
Robin: ‘I’ll sing if you give me food.’

robin4

Me: ‘You’re posing so nicely. Thank you for the photos.’
Robin: ‘You can pay me in food.’

robin5

Me: ‘You’re making me feel guilty that I don’t have anything for you.’
Robin: ‘Lady, FOOD!’

robin6

Me: ‘I do have a muesli bar for my lunch. Maybe you’d like some of that?’
Robin: ‘At last! Where is it?’

robin7

Me: ‘There you go. Just a few crumbs to warm you up.’
Robin: ‘Bit miserly but better than nothing.’

robin8

Me: ‘Gotta go. Nice to talk to you.’
Robin: ‘Tra la la la la!’

Scuffing up leaves

10 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by in autumn, birds, leaves, nature, nature photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

151210 scuffing leaves (3)

For me, one of the great pleasures of late autumn / early winter is scuffing up leaves. Feet clad in hiking boots or wellies, I head out to those areas of park or woodland where the deciduous trees are at their most dense, and I look for the deepest drifts of leaves I can find. And I walk and I kick and I scuff those leaves up, producing little showers of orange and red and gold as the crispy leaves rustle and scrunch and flutter back down to the ground.

151210 scuffing leaves (1)

I feel sorry for those grumpy adults who frown in my direction, their stern looks chastising me for such undignified behaviour. How sad they are to live such a restricted life, to have forgotten the simple – and free! – pleasure of kicking up a few leaves.

As the winter weather slowly morphs the fallen leaves into a dreary brown sludge, I continue to scuff when I can because those leaves now contain the worms and woodlice and grubs the little birds love to eat. And, if I’m lucky, my scuffing efforts will be rewarded by the sweet serenade of a robin, full-bellied and happy from its snacking.

151210 scuffing leaves (2)

Little robin redbreast

07 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by in birds, nature, nature photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

151207 robin (1)

Very cute and more than a little cheeky, a delightful number of little robins entertained me with their antics as I walked through the woodland at Forest Farm Nature Reserve today. With such a bright red breast these dainty charmers are instantly recognisable, and one look from those overly large beady eyes is enough to make me kick up a pile of leaves so the robins can search for a worm or two.

As the autumn leaves get blown away by the first storms of winter, robins seem suddenly to appear in greater numbers – is that just because we can see them more easily in leafless trees or have they returned from a long summer holiday to remind us that Christmas is just around the corner?

Of course, robins are often depicted on Christmas cards, reminding us that, when sending cards first became popular in the 1860s, Victorian postmen wore uniform red waistcoats which earned them the nickname ‘Robin Redbreast’.

151207 robin (2)