Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

I was working on getting the hang of the controls of the K-30 taking shots through the living room window. I had a steady stream of models as the bird feeders are absolutely heaving with birds. They emptied the seed feeder in about three hours.

In the end I reduced my choice to three. A Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile showing the red cap moulting into black, a Great Tit showing unusual markings and this little guy. I liked his cheeky stance and he seemed appropriate as Christmas cards are on sale in Penrith (It is still August isn't it?)

Robins are a bird that is holding its own having shown a modest increase of 2% over the last 40 years. In the UK they are a fairly confiding and friendly species but on the continent they are birds of woodland and deep cover. Am I being cynical when I say perhaps this has something to do with the habit in many continental areas of taking pot shots at anything that moves.