Happy new year, my friends. In 2020, may your yarn never tangle and may nobody interrupt you when you’re counting stitches. How’s your new year going so far? Here at Twisted Towers, I’ve knitted a few rounds of sock, cleaned out the water-butt (yuckety-yuck), and taken the twinnage to the dentist.
And a few days ago, something magical happened, involving this beauty:-
You’ll know the basics already if you follow me on Instagram, but here’s the whole story. Do you remember last summer, I very slowly befriended a robin named Robyn? (Read the story here.) Throwback photo from the summer:-
She was raising her brood in a nest behind the shed and after considerable coaxing, she began to take mealworms from my lap/hand. Then she became more confident, following me around the garden and demanding VERY LOUDLY that I feed her RIGHT NOW. Not gonna lie – I fell in love. Here’s a three-second clip from back in June:-
Her babies reached fledgling age and sometimes, I’d see her feeding them on the fence or yelling at them to GET BACK IN THE NEST. (Robins are shouty.) Her children were round and fluffy, and all-brown because they hadn’t yet developed their red chests. By the end of the season, Robyn was looking a little raggedy, but as a fellow mum-of-multiples, I could kinda relate.
Then she vanished. It happened one morning. She’d tapped on the window, demanding breakfast. (This was a newish behaviour.) I followed her down the garden as she bobbed from shrub to shrub, and I fetched the mealworms from the shed. But this time, she didn’t come and eat. I sat on the little bench, arm outstretched, with a handful of food, but no robin appeared. As I waited, I began to think some uncharitable thoughts about robins who were, quite frankly, beginning to take the proverbial. It was quiet that morning, very quiet, and it took me a while to realize why: sparrowhawk. Close by and very beautiful, but a massive threat to Robyn. She must have been hiding. Clever girl. I didn’t have a camera with me, but here’s a rubbish phone-shot of a sparrowhawk that I’d seen in the garden a few months earlier:-
I didn’t see Robyn again. No matter how many times I scattered mealworms or sat on that bench, she didn’t appear. It was impossible to know whether she’d been caught by the sparrowhawk, or had migrated for the coming winter, or had simply finished her short life. I missed her. I missed her a lot.
Months passed, and of course life continued as it always does. Sometimes I’d notice other robins, but none were tame. Then a few days ago I was pottering about in the garden, and I became increasingly aware of a robin following me around. It definitely seemed to be attention-seeking, flying close by repeatedly and shouting at me. Could it be? Possibly?
For the first time in a while, I fetched the bag of mealworms from the shed, and stood, holding out a handful. She perched on the fence and looked at me, as though unsure. “Robyn! Mealworms!” I called, as I’ve called many times before (the neighbours must think I’m nuts), and then the magical thing happened. SHE FLEW DOWN AND TOOK A MEALWORM FROM MY HAND! Then she made a circuit of the garden and back to the fence, and swooped down to take another! Surely it had to be her? The pestering, the almost immediate confidence, surely that could only be Robyn?
I don’t know where she’s been (European robin migratory patterns are nothing if not complicated) and I haven’t asked her, but wherever it was, it suited her. She’s looking sleek and healthy and plumper than she did before.
She still likes her mealworms, though.
And I’m so very, very happy that she’s back. ❤️
What a lovely story and beautiful start to the new year.
What a lovely story, I really enjoyed your video of her feeding. I have a number of different types of small birds and song birds in the garden and the Robins are the ones who will sit on the fence and chirrip at me loudly while looking me straight in the eyes if the feeders are empty. They won’t stop until I get someone to put out fresh feeders or of I’m alone I put out the ground feeder. Robins do seem to be at the more intelligent end of the song bird scale. I love just sitting watching them all and listening to their songs.
Thank you both. And yes, wheelybird, robins are no fools and are definitely more assertive than other birds. Long may they visit us.
I am reading this before I head to the zoo for my volunteer shift on a very rainy, dreary day and it made the day feel like sunshine and happiness.
But I bet your shift made a big difference to some animals’ lives. Thank you for volunteering such caring work.
I love this story and what amazing photos of Robyn.
Thank you. She is rather wonderful.
Love your robin encounter and the pictures. I always enjoy your posts! Happy New Year from Alliance, Ohio!
Thank you! And from Oxfordshire to Ohio, happy new year to you too!
How wonderful, I am so pleased she has made it through 2019 with you!
Yes, it was the best possible surprise.
From snowy, overcast Ottawa, Canada thank your for sharing such a heartwarming story! You’re human sunshine ????
And from Oxfordshire, UK, thank you for such very kind words. PS: Please send snow.
Aw shucks but you made my morning!
Don’t make me blush! Meanwhile, Robyn has made my year.
Wonderful story. It brought a ray of happiness to a dark wet windy day in west Wales. Thank you.
And thank YOU for saying so. (And west Wales is exceptionally beautiful, even if it is a little wet.)
They do immigrate. I’ve got a summer Robin from probably Spain and a winter probably from Oekraine. But no pasports to check so just a guess. Happy she lost her feathers for a lovely warm new eiderdown. And still trusts you. “Mine” is defending the feeders as if she’s the only hungry bird here. And calling names to the fluffy boys who are under the impression the can catch her. From my Buddha’s statues head. Tssssss.
They’re cheeky, quirky, feisty, loveable little blighters, aren’t they? I’m glad that you have robins visiting too. No garden should be without them.
So cute ????
She is. She really, really is.
What a lovely story to start the year!
Yes! I’m feeling very grateful. Happy new year!
oh i am so very glad that Robyn has come back to you!
happiest of new years!
best regards,
daisy 🙂
And happy new year to you, too! I can’t believe my good fortune to see her again. She really is wonderful.
Love your Robyn story. Is someone chopping onions around here? <sniff sniff?
No, but I might not have been keeping on top of the dusting. ???? Sorry.
You made my morning too! So glad to know Robyn is back.
Thank you. And honestly, it’s made my year!
How lovely is this? Robins are such characters.
They really are. Especially this one.
This story is completely heartwarming. Thank you.
And thank YOU for saying so! Happy new year.
Love, love, love! Happy New Year xx
Thank you! And a VERY happy new year to you too, oh long-term reader.
So rewarding for you! Beautiful shots. I’m so pleased she knows where she is appreciated. And how amazing that this little story is being loved globally. Thank you. x
And thank you for such generous words. I do feel incredibly fortunate to have her back in my life. She’s a clever, feisty, little character.
So you’re the ‘bird whisperer’ now… what a magical thing to have happen… so glad the hawk didn’t get her.
Or maybe she’s the ‘human whisperer’ because she’s persuaded me to do her bidding.
So happy she came back!!
Yes, me too! I am ridiculously relieved and excited.
Awesome, literally brought tears to my eyes. In North America our robins, no doubt named after yours as they also have a red breast, are a totally different bird. Much bigger & I don’t think they’d go for meally worms. They prefer the worms in the garden although will also eat dried fruit from crab apples,etc if caught in a spring storm in Mantioba. I love birds of all kinds…we’re planning a move from Manitoba to BC later this year. Moving closer to one of our sons. I’m looking forward to learning about new birds. The climate & birds change in North America at the western mountains. I’ll have to get new bird books as well. Birds of Eastern North America only pertains to east of the Rockies.
You’ll surely have many magnificent birds to see in the western mountains? I hope the move goes well. As someone who once spent three blissful months working/travelling in Canada, I can say that you live in the most wonderful country.
Magpies here, which are very different from your magpies. They bring each new brood in to us to show off. If we don’t pay them sufficient attention (aka food) they will hang on the window with their beaks to remind us of their presence. We also have lots of tiny blue wrens (Google them if you don’t know them) which sit on the windows looking for insects.
Definitely an Aussie, Denise, yeah ? 😀
Denise, your magpies (and wrens) sound wonderful! I love the sound of their parental pride.
Oh Phil ! – how WONDERFUL !!! That’s a story to gladden any bird-lover’s heart, and here you have a large, clumsy bird-doting fool. 🙂
How happy you must be – and how rewarded for all your nurturing ! With any luck at all, Robyn will be around for a very long time – although I haven’t the faintest of wee birdies’ lifespans.
Needless to say, we don’t have robins; but we do have – oh, say, wrens, equally adorable (I mention them because I think they might be around the same size).
To have a little creature sit on your hand with its dear little feet .. no, I cannot imagine that.
You ARE lucky !
Wrens are adorable, aren’t they? Tiny and quick and almost spherical. And yes, I am very, VERY happy that Robyn has returned. It feels like an enormous privilege to have a little of her trust. She is clever, cheeky, busy, feisty, nurturing, and utterly wonderful.
Love your robin story. I’ve had chickadees light on my hand and eat sunflower seeds. It was nice to see your robin eating out of yours.
Oh wow! (I had to look up chickadees.) That’s lovely! Thank you for your kind words.
Soooooo lovely to see Robyn back. My parents have fed a blackbird with a misshapen beak for a number of years, and he occasionally disappears for months at a time, when they’re convinced he’s dies, but then, knocking on the kitchen window, running up and down the sill, it’s Beaky! So I know the feeling when they return. Beautiful photo of the eyelashes, wish mine were that stunning! Happy New year to you and yours x
I am reading this at 5:03 PM, Pacific Standard Time, meaning you’re in bed (maybe) and it’s 1:03 AM, January 3rd. I really enjoyed this little love story and thank you so much for posting. I cannot do anything like that as I have a very hunterly cat who brings me “gifts” every morning. Don’t think it would be meet if I were to lure the birds, no matter how squawking and irritating they can be! – to certain death.
This story is so heartwarming! I am ridiculously happy that she has returned to you for more mealworms! Please update from time to time!
First a happy new year for all of you too!!! I enjoy your posts so very much! Be they about yarn-related matters or these wonderful stories surrounding your life. And the story of the robin is especially heartwarming for me, because here in Germany the number of insects and birds decreases every year…. your relationship with Robyn shows that it is possible for humans and animals to coexist!!! I’m looking forward to your next posts!!
I was also very lucky to have a Robin nest outside my back door. In had decided to nest in a planter on the wall just outside my door which meant I had to turn off my watering system so as not to water log the nest. She had one egg and I dont know if you have heard the difference in the little noise they make when the egg has hatched . We saw them taking it in turn to feed the baby one in one out lol. I decided to put the dried mealworms in hot water to rehydrate them then left them outside in a bowl they went very quickly. There are always Robin’s in my garden not necessarily the same ones but they do hang around and even have my husband buying Robin food for them. We also have blue tits in the front garden now they make a beautiful little noise when the babys have hatched and are the tiniest little things when they first hatch. And very noisy. I have a few bird houses in my garden as I love to watch them.
How on earth do you photograph it??? Marvellous!
This little bird saga has totally charmed me – and what a lovely way to begin a brand new year – and decade! Thank you, Phil, you are a bright spot in the lives of all who join you here.
I am so happy to know Robyn is back! I look forward to your joint adventures in the garden this Spring (It’s almost here with the first Robyn of Spring.)
Delighted that you have your Robin friend back again! It gets lonely sometimes!
What a wonderfully bright heart warming love story! I am ridiculously delighted that your beautiful Robyn returned. Love, LOVE your photos of Robyn & the video….
I’ve definitely got something in my eye….
Brilliant start to the year and quite heartwarming.
We have a couple of nesting pairs with one especially who behaved really oddly during the Old Mad Cats last few weeks in the autumn. Wherever Zorro decided to sit in the autumn sun, arbour, garden chairs, his hammock, Robin would come and sit about a foot away from him and chatter. When Zorro died we saw him on Z’s favourite spots for a few days then nothing. However this week (which is week three of Lily dog ) a very chatty Robin has appeared and follows her every move in the garden. X
I LOVE THIS STORY!