One day last week I looked out and one lone robin hopped into the water and took a drink.
On this cold day he thought twice about a bath and hopped back out.
He flew to the bare branches of the nearby walnut tree to bask in the sun.
He should have flown south by now so next year's bud growth on the oak tree must have really confused him.
Perhaps it was best to fly back to the walnut tree to sort things out.
(The day after my encounter with the lone robin a flock of others joined him to dine on the berries in a tree in my backyard. (Unknown tree to me that has black berries on it.) Haven't seen any robins in a few days so I hope this guy joined the party and headed south. See you in the spring Mr. Robin. Have a great vacation!)
*EDIT- after reading some of the comments I felt compelled to note that many of you may see robins all winter long. For whatever reason - cold, available food sources, etc. - they do not stay in my area which is why on a cold day as I scanned the feeders and the backyard he stuck out and was out of place on those bare limbs for mid-November. We will begin to see them returning sometime around mid-March. My Mom, her best friend, and I always have a running contest to see who spots the first Spring robin.
*EDIT- after reading some of the comments I felt compelled to note that many of you may see robins all winter long. For whatever reason - cold, available food sources, etc. - they do not stay in my area which is why on a cold day as I scanned the feeders and the backyard he stuck out and was out of place on those bare limbs for mid-November. We will begin to see them returning sometime around mid-March. My Mom, her best friend, and I always have a running contest to see who spots the first Spring robin.
Linking to Wild Birds with Stewart.
i hope he joined up with them, too. i always worry about the soloists...
ReplyDeleteHello Carletta ! Your robin is beautiful and so handsome. I love birds especially these small.
ReplyDeleteIn my garden live a lot of sparrows
Greetings !
Some snowbirds don't want to head south until after the Holidays ... maybe he is waiting until after Christmas ;>) .... hope not, it's getting cold up there.
ReplyDeleteI loved your story. Hopefully the lone robin is enjoying a warmer climate with his friends, now.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, Carletta. I do believe that the warmer temperatures confuse the animals.
ReplyDeleteOur robins left quite some time back and then those that migrate through will be here in January to eat the berries on the Holly trees.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird is the Robin and beautiful photos, Carletta!
ReplyDeleteGreetings, RW & SK
Many people re seeing robins when they should be further south. Robindswill bath even if it's below freezing. We count robins every year in our Christmas bird count.
ReplyDeleteSome of our Robins stay with us all winter. Don't know why some go and some stay. Great set of photos.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Awww, sweet little fella! I do hope he flew farther south to join his comrades. Love your pics!
ReplyDeletePoor, lonely fellow! Hope he joined the crowd and left the cold behind. I heard a robin just this morning. Sometimes they stay all year. We have lots of berries... Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I hope they're all on their way now.
ReplyDeleteGood shots Carletta.....i like these Robin birds.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Joop
A fine series on this pretty and popular bird. The robins here are gone for the winter too, and return in the spring.
ReplyDeletenoticeable that you fall is a few weeks ahead of us here in the UK, I still cant see the birds through the foliage in my garden, however the cold snap hit last night so I guess they will have fallen in a few days.
ReplyDeleteI think the robins are either adjusting to the cold (with help from ornamental fruit trees) or the climate is changing. We never saw them until early February in north New Jersey when I was a kid, but now they are present all year. Here in Florida we get big flocks some winters, and in others we are lucky to see even one.
ReplyDeleteI had a straggler last week, he seemed very confused. Our weather has been exceptionally warm for this time of year. I hope you don't see anymore until the spring!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos Carletta! I haven't seen a robin in a while. They disappear from our area also but return in the spring. Always a welcome sight, especially when the babies arrive :)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of a beautiful bird - I hope it migrates south safely.
ReplyDeleteGreat post for WBW! Nice to see your photos!
ReplyDeleteLove the robin against the pretty blue sky! Wonderful shots, Carletta. Have a great evening and week ahead!
ReplyDeleteI always see them in the spring...never this time of year. I hope he decided to go on with his new buds.
ReplyDeleteCarletta, just got to leave a big, long winded comment. Robins have been gone from my house for ages. They leave before summer is over. I do not know why. and right around us in town is one of the last places to get them.
ReplyDeleteNeal says he sees them all winter in Indianapolis, and I know the first winter that Sarah lived there, I saw them at her house during winter.
And I see them out at other places a few miles out of town. I don't know if it has something to do with our soil being more sandy...Sarah's yard is more clay. It is just totally strange.
They have been busy in my area eating all of the berries :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shots of the robin!
ReplyDeleteWonderful images. They hold a promise of brighter times to come.
ReplyDeleteNice shots - and seeing a bird "out of place" is always worth noting!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
At least it is easier to spot the Robin when there are no leaves. Great shots and fun captions.
ReplyDeleteWhat great images Carletta. You are privileged to have him stop by your yard in autumn. Farther north near Houston there are robins but for some reason I've not seen any this far south. Weird. Maybe it's TOO hot for them. I don't know.
ReplyDeleteAlso, love how you linked up to Stewards WBW..."Wild Birds with Stewart".
Nice story. I like how you told it with your photographs.
ReplyDeletehi Carletta. Lovely shots of your Robin.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your pictures and Robin stories! I always do!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I like the story layout of the photos. The return of the robin's song in the spring is a very welcome sound after the long, cold, sometimes harsh winters here.
ReplyDeleteI love little robin red breast and look forward to his return each spring. Have a happy Thanksgiving
ReplyDeleteRobins never leave here. You will see them all winter. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHi, Me again… Just checked your Thanksgiving post --so wanted to send a greeting to you also...Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteWe are in FL with George's son and family enjoying Thanksgiving. They are cooking a FEAST for us… YUM.
Hugs,
Betsy
I finally noticed a few birds drinking from my new birdbath (I put it out there about a month ago) and was so happy!
ReplyDelete