American Robin Grimsby - Star performer !

[Paul Hackett]

Had a great morning with this bird today, down to two metres !! plus excellent video footage without digiscoping

I was in the company of Adrian Webb and Nick who were both on form !

The bird was as Bold as Brass, and it saw every blackbird off that came any where near its bush !

[IanF]

Another superb shot Paul, very nicely taken indeed :t:

[Reader]

Beautiful picture Paul. Unfortunately I went for it last Saturday, the day after it was found, and there were so many birders there that you couldn't get into a position to take a decent shot. I ended up with only a record shot as I was continually being knocked by other birders.

How many birders were there with you?

[sue m]

Had a great morning with this bird today, down to two metres !! plus excellent video footage without digiscoping

I was in the company of Adrian Webb and Nick who were both on form !

The bird was as Bold as Brass, and it saw every blackbird off that came any where near its bush !

I was up in Grimsby last Sat/Sun. Short stroll from my mate's house to the trading estate where bird world's equivalent of a thug is living! I was in the company of my hungover friend who's had enough of the Robin and thought I'd lost my marbles

Yankee Rob is now officially the Hardman of Pyewipe. Cocky little showoff who is defending patch like life depended on it.

As I've posted elsewhere... this bird is not in a hurry to go anywhere. Very nice to have a ganders at as well.

Sue (:))

[intellectual]

Hi,

The American Robin must be getting softer the longer it stops here.
When I paid her a visit on 6th February she was being chased by a male Blackbird and seemed to enjoy every minute. When he wasn't chasing her, she was chasing him, in and out the undergrowth. I was there late afternoon till 4.45pm. Did anyone notice if there were any red grapes for her? Apples were in abundance the day I went.
Long may she stay here, giving us lots of pleasure.

Intellectual

[Luc]

Hi all,

He in Québec (Canada) the American Robin is not yet back from his winter migration. He must be here in the beginning of April.

I am glad to see that your visitor is in great shape.

Hope he will sing for you all. He has a melodious song.

Luc Tremblay
Québec, Canada

[Rob Smallwood]

Word on the street is that she was taken by a hawk today?

[Steve]

Lincs Very Sadly The American Robin Was Killed By A Fem Sparrowhawk At
12.10pm & Was Later Videoed Being Plucked+beheaded.

[Rob Smallwood]

That is a shame - but I suppose no more so than if it were one of the Blackbirds present!
Two points though:

1) Vagrants often fall victim to predators, either because they are not fully fit when they arrive or because many experts believe that predators home in on anything unusual, hence a rarity or abnormal bird (including albinos and other plumage variations)is more likely to be taken.

2) More interestingly in this case, I wonder if the fact the this bird has been encouraged to stay at this one site by the provision of food (not necessarily just for the birds benefit?) might have encouraged it to stay in the site for far longer than it would have done naturally? As the bird became tamer and more reliant on the artificial food source, could its natural defence mechanisms have been weakened.I don't suppose we will ever know (and hopefully it will re-appear soon having evaded the talons of terror!) but it is an interesting thought that it could have been threatened by the vary process designed to assist it?

[Bluetail]

That is a shame - but I suppose no more so than if it were one of the Blackbirds present!Leaving sentiment out of it (and I'm as sorry as anyone to see it go), you could argue that it was better that the Sprawk took this lost waif than one of our native breeders.

Jason

[Susan C]

Saw my first Am. robin of 2004 last weekend - they are starting to arrive home in Southern Ontario for the summer. Their song on a warm evening means spring has arrived.

[Luc]

Of course it is sad but I agree with Jason.

This bird was the only one of his kind, and lost. His death helps another apecies to survive.

Being in you beautiful country, he made peoples of either side of the sea closer. So, he was a bird of great destinity.

Luc Tremblay
Québec,Canada.

[birdman]

Rob... I put something similar, although not as well, in one of the other threads. You beat me to it, but it seems we are not alone in the sentiment.

Of course it is sad but I agree with Jason.

This bird was the only one of his kind, and lost. His death helps another apecies to survive.

Being in you beautiful country, he made peoples of either side of the sea closer. So, he was a bird of great destinity.

Luc Tremblay
Québec,Canada.
What thoughtful and generous words, Luc. Well said!