Erithacus Rubecula - From the Camera
The idea for this shot came a few months ago. It was coming up for Christmas, and getting cards with dull images on them. I wanted to create a card for friends and family, which was more personal, than the ones bought out of a shop.
Snow scenes were out of the question, as we’d had very little snow, so the next choice was the traditional Robin Red Breast.
Don’t let looks fool you, as endearing as he looks, he is extremely aggressive and territorial to other birds, but during the winter months and food becomes harder to find, he is the total opposite.
This one in the photo, I used to see him every day as I walked around my local loch (lake). He’d follow me as soon as I was spotted, to the end of his territory, but every time I lifted the camera, he’d fly off then come back. It was almost like he was playing a game with me. Not willing to be outdone by a Robin, I started to feed him every day, after a few weeks and a hard frost on the ground, he was eating out of my hand. The camera then became no problem.