Seen it at last.

Robins displaying.
Since I was a kid we were always told about the throat display of robins. Hosking used a potatoe painted red. I tried that and it didn't work ! Just after I'd done the Fieldfare a day or so back,this happened. Not a good shot by photo standards but at last I've seen it and got a pic of some sort !
For interest really.
Cheers
JohnR

I bet it was worth the wait too.

Never seen it myself, but my daughter and wife have.

Thanks John
JR

A nice behavioural shot John I've never seen it either in nearly 35 years of birding!

That's the real advantage of comfort and shooting from home, it allows you (I don't want to assume too much about your work situation as I don't know though I guess that you may be retired) to potentially spend a decent amount of time observing winter behaviour whilst being tucked up indoors, hence this interesting behavior shown here. Question for you, who would win in a fight between pied wagtail and a robin? Nice shot by the way though I'd be tempted to lose a bit off the bottom of the frame.

Cheers

Andy

Pied wagtail every time at least in my garden Andrew.
Very interesting shot John, I've never seen that myself so thanks for putting it up here.
Eric

I think the Robin would win here because my wife has got them on mealworms and they do become very defensive. Never seen the two at it tough so I don't really know.
Cheers
JohnR

Great behavioural shot John. My money would be on the robins, they are aggressive little wotsits.

David

Brillant behaviour captured,I have seen Robins almost falling out of tree's and bushes fighting with the claws inter locked,they look so beautiful but people forget the are a very aggressive and territorial bird,the pose on the back bird is classic

Great behaviour shot. Never seen it myself and I spend quite some time outdoors:)

Thanks for sharing.

Edwin Kats

Its just gargling John. Very good behavioural shot.

Major.

not something I've ever seen either. Well captured John.

Matt

Hi John

interesting shot of something I have never seen

'Everything comes to he who waits' and here is the proof. Well done indeed.

Never seen this happen - how very interesting, I am afraid I didn't even know they displayed - so brilliant timing John, superb work.

Thanks all.
It all happened about 4 foot away from the Fieldfare and his apple so I was what you might call "lucky" I got several shots but as you can see the conditions were not the best.
Seriously folks try the red taty trick ! A stuffed robind would be even better. A mate of mine used one of those Christmas imitation birds and the Robin just demolished it !
Cheers
JohnR

Well captured John. I have never seen this before either.
P.S. The D300 is second hand

It's such fun watching the interactions of birds and you must be dead chuffed to have caught this. I was pleased to get a few pictures of robins battling it out the other day. Theyr'e all out of focus but I still love them and have put them on my blog. I can't say I've seen much serious fighting between robins and other birds.

Tim

Hi John
I had exactly the same experience in my garden last week, as I filled feeders this behaviour was going on just 6 feet away. It was followed by a couple of days of frenetic chases, after which they became more tolerant of each other. I think this was a case of a male allowing a female to share his territory, which happens at this time of year, rather than two male - which tends to be much more aggressive, rather than this "posturing". Nice capture, wish I'd had my camera over my shoulder at the time!

Colin