A crow called Curiousity

Oh, wait: that should be a crone called Curiosity.

I have mentioned a few times the number of robins around (none of which currently seem to be Tane). And I remember writing that one day i was sure I saw some courting.

Well, I definitely saw that today. It was quite remarkable.

Two robins were perched about 90cm apart on a branch of the sycamore to the north of my garden. They were not arguing, it was definitely courtship. And there was a third on another branch that stuck out of the tree at a 90 degree angle to the first. This robin was watching what was going on - without any signs of territorial display, but as if ready to court him or herself.

One of the two robins flew up the tree and the third took advantage and I thought, though I could not see, that this third was then definitely courting one of the other two.

After a while, Falca/o returned to my white lilac - he or she was one of the three.

I don't think this is unusual - for robins to be courting this early. I am sure I read that they can engage in this as early as December.

In other garden news, not long after the sparrowhawk sighting, I saw, across consecutive days, the feathery remains of pigeons. Then I saw the sparrowhawk once more. No further signs. I also have a feeling that the pigeons have been giving the garden a wide berth.

I have been leaving Pedigree Chum treats for the fox. One of them is a chew, which must be quite challenging. It seems to take a few visits to get through them. I found one half buried in another part of the garden.