We’re now well into  February and although winter is still with us our birds are definitely  getting ready for spring which is surely just around the corner. The robin is among the first to pair up for the breeding season and the sound of the little male sat on his frost covered branch is one of the earliest precursors of springtime.

He sits there proud as can be, bright red breast puffed out, singing his heart out, trying his best to entice a mate to flutter along and join him. Judging by the number of fledglings landing on our bird tables in the summer it seems to be a pretty successful ruse. A friend of mine tried it once but sadly without any success. His singing was ok but it all ended in tears when he fell out of the tree!

I like the robin, the national bird of England and an appropriate bird for our country; small, proud, feisty and defiant, punching well above his weight – like we used to do, once upon a time!