Robin close-up

I've never done a survey but I imagine that 95% of the birds represented on Christmas cards in the UK  are robins. I have the impression that it used to be 100%, but in recent years a few others (owls, blue tits, wrens etc) have begun to make an appearance. Today's robin came very close to me allowing this photograph and being rewarded with a few seeds we were carrying.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P950

Robin red breast

click photo to enlarge
When I was young the robin (Erithacus rubecula) was often referred to as the "robin red breast". When I first heard this it struck me as odd because the robin's breast is clearly orange. I supposed that alliterative charm appealed more than colour accuracy. More importantly, however, is the fact that "orange" as a colour name didn't come into usage in Britain until the sixteenth century and prior to that date red was the nearest colour to orange. Interestingly one of the old names for the robin was the "ruddock", a word that also means red. This robin allowed a close approach, standing on the railings, probably hoping for some food from us.

 photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Litter bin robin

Robins actively seek out human company it seems. But, like most animals it only does so in the hope that it will result in some food coming its way. This robin was flitting to and fro, in and out of the slots of a litter bin, but wasn't looking for food. It had its eye on us and it let us approach quite closely before concluding that we had nothing to offer and it might have better luck elsewhere.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Nearly a photographic cliche

For this photograph to have been a popular and much sought after cliche the robin would have to be a kingfisher: Google Images positively overflows with such shots successfully captured by photographers. However, photographs of a robin on a fishing rod are also very common, and a few moments thought leads to why this is so, and why they may actually outnumber kingfishers on rods. Firstly, robins are one of the most commonly seen small perching birds in the UK (kingfishers are seen much less often). Secondly, robins often seek close proximity to people in search of titbits. And thirdly, the river bank vegetation, bushes and trees provide the kind of habitat that robins frequent.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Preening robin

Word must have got round among the local robins that I am targeting them with my camera. How else to explain them lining up, in various poses, to have their photograph taken? Having said that, I was at a bit of a loss with this robin. Was it hiding from me? Was it contorting itself in the manner of a fashion model, hoping to be chosen because of its unusual posture? Or perhaps it was simply engrossed in preening and preparing itself for the photograph it knew I would take? I got a couple of shots of the bird looking its best, but, as with the fashion models, the shot I prefer is the unconventional, preparatory image.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Old and young robins

Such is the difference between an adult and a juvenile robin many do not realise the identity of a youngster. Not until autumn comes along does the characteristic red-orange breast replace the flecked brown and buff of the young bird.

These photographs were taken at different times with different cameras: both illustrate the trusting nature of the robin, a quality that endears it to gardeners and others, and which led to it being nominated as our national bird.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10photo © T. Boughen
Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2     2017

I do photograph birds

I've had a life-long fascination with birds but I've always pursued the interest as one of many rather than single-mindedly as some do. And though I've taken the odd shot,  I've never really photographed them - the large, expensive lenses that are required and the determination necessary to get the shots just didn't appeal to me. But, the advent of mega-zoom bridge cameras offers the opportunity for less cost and I'm giving it a try, so now birds will occasionally feature. Though the image quality isn't as good as with more expensive lenses and bodies it's better than I imagined, and for many purposes, good enough.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900