Tuesday, 31 January 2023

A Robin with a story

 26th January 2023 - A Robin has been visiting Emma J's garden and house! for some time now, and she has rather a nice story to tell about it, albeit with a slightly sad ending:

Some other (sad) news - my Robin has gone. We were getting along swimmingly and I fed it several times a day - I hope I didn't give it too much pastry, but the weather was cold and I thought they needed the carbs. Anyway, I heard a scuffle outside my window at dusk last Friday, and couldn't see anything, but thought it might be the Robin asking for some supper. So I finished what I was doing, and went out, but the Robin didn't come. I thought it may be a bit miffed that I hadn't responded immediately, so I put the food out and went back in. But sadly, there has been no sign of it since.

I've never had such a close relationship with a bird - it had attitude and it came into the house when I had the doors open and wasn't looking. It just calmly hopped into the kitchen and then turned into the sitting room, as if it knew where it was going! It then perched on a chair arm, had a look around, before flying to another vantage point, and had another look around. I pleaded with it to come out again and it did - calmly hopped back the way it had entered the house.

I read they have their own territory when not mating, but don't know if it thought it was spring and went off to find its mate. I am pretty sure it turned up here every day from October 2021 until last week. I have seen another Robin around in the last couple of days but it definitely is not my tame friend.

This is the last photo - two days before it disappeared - looking perky as ever!

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The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

  • To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
  • To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
  • To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
  • To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)