I could honestly call this Robin the bird of the day, but it would be at least as accurate to describe it as the best of a bad job.
On a depressingly Tupperware day I missed a good and easy photo opportunity by failing to keep enough of an eye on the scrubby rowan opposite my study window: when I suddenly realised that it was full of berrying birds (including at least one Redwing) I panicked and reached for the camera too quickly, forgetting that they could see me at least as well as I could see them, and put the whole flock to flight. At this juncture it was a little late to be thinking about using some fieldcraft, but I rested the camera on the back of the sofa, with the curtains almost closed around the lens, and waited…. The birds were having none of it though – I suspect they were sitting in the hedgerow across the lane, watching me setting up my “hide” and snickering to each other – and they didn’t come back.
In the end I went for a walk to the North Littleton Community Orchard, which did at least get me some steps, but though there were Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings there they were skittish, and stayed too far away for detailed photos. A couple of winters back this orchard was busy with Stonechats, which were much bolder and would obligingly sit for photos on seed heads and fences, as long as you didn’t rush them – but sadly they all seem to have moved elsewhere.
On my way home I spotted a huge yew tree in someone’s front garden that was full of blackbirds and starlings, but by this point the light was so poor that all the photos I took were beyond rescue, even by AI de-noising software. I must remember to go back in better light, before they’ve stripped the entire tree of berries.
R: C6, D14.
