We had a robin in the garden today....

[askyourgran]

Is that a sign of an early winter? The starlings have started gathering too on the telegraph pole and the wires, not too many yet usually there are hundreds there before they fly off.

[ladybirder]

I've had robins in my garden all winter gran. They live here.

[nungate]

Robins usually disappear in the summer - maybe they go on holiday? It's round about this time of year that they return to our garden.

[askyourgran]

It's the first time I've seen one this early, usually in the wintertime. I assume you mean you've had them all summer ladybirder? We only get the blackbirds wrens, and bluetits during the summer. Recently, collard doves and wood pigeons have started nesting nearby.

[Euphemia]

Yesterday I saw a skein of geese flying over for the first time this autumn

[ttfn]

Some people are terrible with their parking gran (reliant upon a joke, as ever) ;)

Big Sis has resident robins all year. The fledglings are getting quite a red chest now. We buy special food for them and they have to be fed first thing in the morning. The adults are sitting waiting when the back door is opened to let the dog out.

We have noticed though that suddenly there are fewer finches and tits about. Quite often, one will fall prey to the sparrowhawk but that does not usually keep them from all the bird feeding stations for such long periods as has been the case for the last 2 weeks.

Yesterday we were treated to the sight of a huge flock of pheasants landing in the field behind the garden - we reckoned there were 80 - 100 of them. They mingled with the free range chickens and geese. It looked like Bedlam out there. Some of the pheasants stayed for hours in the field whilst many of them made for the near by woods. The pup was bemused by one hen pheasant that landed on the bungalow roof with its feathers all fluffed up. Thank goodness it did not land in the garden - they tend to be a bit clumbersome and I am sure the lurcher would get one before it had lift off. The old German Shepherd regularly collected pheasant tail feather trophies :)

[DrFilth]

i think we have a couple of robins that stay most of the year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6obNkpnalU

[SKA]

I love Robins, they are so beautiful! I want to photograph some!!

Where can I find them in Manchester???

[ladybirder]

Gran of course I meant winter, silly me.
SKA - try your local park.

[Buenchico]

It seems that some robins migrate but others don't:
http://www.theanswerb...1.html#answer-4956722

[ladybirder]

S U M M E R.

[ttfn]

^^^ a true seasoned ABer :)

[askyourgran]

Gotcha ladybirder. My brother has a visiting robin who waits for bits of bread etc,. I only get a squirrel. I wondered about the migration Chris, I usually get one or two in the wintertime but not during the summer. I like to see the pheasants strutting about the country lanes ttfn, it's a shame that they are shot for game. Not very streamlined for flying really.

[seadogg]

Funny you should say that ayg 'cos we had a first sighting yesterday. There is a loose brick in the garage wall and they nested in an old walking boot, dined on meal worms and took to the woods for the summer. Now they are back to freeload during the winter.

[DrFilth]

wish the ones in next doors garden were as friendly as this one
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqmgfpDlXBM&NR=1

[askyourgran]

That was really tame DrF.

[Maydup]

Our robins live in the garden all year round, but they molt in July/August and are a little less bold during those months.

Nevertheless I only have to turn a spade in the earth and they join me for the worms and grubs and are back to their normal selves now they have their winter feathers. I'm not keen on hand feeding but they would if I offered them the chance.