Robin - By Roy Bowden
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Don't you just love him? The robin. Wherever you go, he is there singing his beautiful song. Summer and winter; in the woods, in the hedges and especially in the garden, the robin is there. He is so considerate, jumping out from behind the beetroot to rescue worms from my spade; pecking around helpfully, making his contribution. Keeping woodlice out of the compost, keeping an eye on the log pile.
At the feeder, he knows his place. Always happy to bite a passing dunnock, but wary of the sparrow (with his bow and arrow?). First in line for raw pastry, and preferably wholemeal - go easy on the salt. No wonder he is portly. If he's not keen on anything, like currants, he'll take them off to feed the kids - and come back for more for them. No wonder they have got spots.
Not just a fair-weathered friend like so many of the other birds, he sticks around through thick and thin; through rain and snow. Yes, if you've got a robin, every day is Christmas. Our unofficial National Bird: don't you just love him?
Roy Bowden has been an active wildlife recorder all his life and brought his skills to Cheshire Wildlife Trust's work, including 12 years as chairman of the Reserves and Technical Committee