Return to moorhen home page

Return to section index

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image Taken on 19 Aug 2009 at 06:14    Image of day on 29 Sep 2009

Robins are very territorial, but we didn't see any evidence of this being more than a brief squabble.


Ref: 20090929_d3a_20090819_0614_072_fb2 2 robins fighting over log (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Mar 2013 at 12:45    Image of day on 28 Apr 2013

The next bout of snow caught these 2 Robins out in the fall. We are not sure of the relationship between these individuals - 3 pairs of Robin each think they 'own' the feeder!


Ref: 20130428_d3b_20130324_1245_280_fb3 2 robins in snow possibly squabbling (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Feb 2011 at 07:53    Image of day on 03 Apr 2011

Its Spring, and there are Robins everywhere, usually spotted in pairs rather than singletons. Out of breeding season robins are rarely seen together except when fighting!


Ref: 20110403_d5c_20110220_0753_092_fb2 pair of robins one flying over the other looking up (orig)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Feb 2018 at 09:32    Image of day on 26 Mar 2018

Winter is a hard time for small birds. Spring has not yet provided a new supply of food, but the bird must feed to keep warm and make a start on the breeding season. When we appear anywhere now, Robins rush about excitedly in the expectation of a hand-out.


Ref: 20180326_df3_20180220_0932_002 2 robins perched in hedge(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 23 Sep 2019 at 15:37    Image of day on 16 Nov 2019

Another sort of Gall on a self propagated wild Rose at the front of the house. These Robins Pin-cushion Galls are really rather attractive, and don't seem to degrade the plants too much.


Ref: 20191116_df3_20190923_1537_030 robins pin-cushion gall 3cm across on cut-back rose(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Aug 2018 at 17:52    Image of day on 09 Oct 2018

This is the Robins Pin-cushion (rose bedeguar gall) on an overhead tendril of Rose rather than on an established plant where we normally see them. Since nearly getting 'spiked' on the head by this tendril, we have spotted several more instances of Pin-cushions on high growth. We think that the insects that induce these galls must have really enjoyed the heat-wave!


Ref: 20181009_d72_20180810_1752_053 robins pin-cushion on new rose tendril(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 Aug 2017 at 16:10    Image of day on 09 Sep 2017

The same Robin's Pincushion as it has developed over 10 days.


Ref: 20170909_df3_20170804_1610_014 robins pin-cushion on rose bush(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Jul 2017 at 15:48    Image of day on 09 Sep 2017

This plant parasite, apparently specific to Roses bushes, is this Robin's Pin-cushion. It is really rather pretty, though we doubt that an avid rose grower would agree.


Ref: 20170909_df3_20170725_1548_053 robins pin-cushion on wild rose in meadow (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 31 Aug 2013 at 08:35    Image of day on 21 Oct 2013

A Wild Rose shoot a few cm high in our 'wildlife friendly' gravel turning area contained 3 Robin's Pincushions - created by a Gall wasp's chemical on this species. This one is only 15mm across (half inch) and was this genuine red.


Ref: 20131021_p10_20130831_0835_976 robins pincushion (about 15mm dia) on rose sapling in front gravel (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Jul 2011 at 17:59    Image of day on 27 Aug 2011

One wild rose is smothered in Robins Pincushion - an insect gall. One at the top of the stem (above this framing) is 6cm in diameter, but these are more typical on this plant at 2 to 3 cm.


Ref: 20110827_p10_20110715_1759_265 2 robins pincushion galls on wild rose (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 31 Aug 2013 at 08:37    Image of day on 21 Oct 2013

A Wild Rose shoot a few cm high in our 'wildlife friendly' gravel turning area contained 3 Robin's Pincushions - created by a Gall wasp's chemical on this species. These larger two are about 5cm (2 inches) across and more quietly coloured than the smaller one.


Ref: 20131021_p10_20130831_0837_985 robins pincushions (each about 50mm dia) on rose sapling in front gravel (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 23 Jan 2017 at 08:06    Image of day on 26 Feb 2017

Two Robin having a scrap. Could be fighting or checking out each other's defensive capabilities while pairing.


Ref: 20170226_e64_20170123_0806_042_fb2 robins skirmishing (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Feb 2017 at 12:57    Image of day on 26 Mar 2017

Snow does nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of Robins for a little territorial squabble.


Ref: 20170326_e60_20170210_1257_025_fb3 2 robins skirmishing in flight in snow over perch(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 31 Jan 2019 at 13:27    Image of day on 03 Mar 2019

A bit of a squabble between these two Robins - the claws don't seem to be 'out in earnest'. Possible a potential pair trying to get used to having another Robin in their territory.


Ref: 20190303_e64_20190131_1327_031_fb2 robins squabbling in flight (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Jan 2017 at 16:06    Image of day on 02 Mar 2017

Two-thirds through January & quite suddenly the Robins, normally solitary during the early part of winter, have dropped some of their aggression towards the opposite sex enough to see pairs quite often. We never see Robins 'canoodling' - mating and nesting seems to be a brief period of an armed truce!


Ref: 20170302_e63_20170121_1606_226+e64_20170120_0747_037_fb1+fb2 robins suddenly starting to pair (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Apr 2009 at 20:09    Image of day on 19 May 2009

No idea what is going on here, but couldn't resist showing you.
On the Right hand bird notice the two raised Alulae (the clearest is the spike on the wing immediately above the eye) we have never noticed this before on any small bird. They are rather more obvious on this Kestrel (click to view)) and form part of the anti-stalling aerodynamics of the magic of bird wings.


Ref: 20090519_d35_20090422_2009_094 fb4 2 robins taking off(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Jul 2009 at 20:13    Image of day on 27 Aug 2009

An absolute fantasie illustrating what is probably at least 2 robin families visiting site 2. The left bird has been flipped and merged to make this illustration of feather development.


Ref: 20090827_d3a_20090718_2013_026+20090719_0520_042_fb2 2 young robins with different feather development as face-to-face montage(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 10 Apr 2005

The Robins are paired up now. The one on the right looks definitely a mess on this wet and dingy morning.


Ref: 20050410_d3e_13906 fb1 2 robins with one dishevelled 2005apr06_11-23-24(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Apr 2008 at 19:46    Image of day on 05 May 2008

... or sing to you at 100dB


Ref: 20080505_d3b_20080418_1946_054 fb1 pair of robins with one singing(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 23 May 2007 at 04:44    Image of day on 08 Jun 2007

This disagreeable looking bird is a Robin fledgling - just a few days out of the nest. The red breast is an adult characteristic.


Ref: 20070608_d3c_20070523_0444_084 fb1 roblin fledging(r+mb id@576).jpg

Comments and requests for image use

To make a comment, ask for information or to request a full resolution image, send us an email including the reference or the date for the image you are interested in.

All initial contacts should be made using the icon below:-