Butter wouldn't melt...

Tane showed his true colours the other day: chasing off a poor dunnock who was trying to eat on the green box. The first time, he just flew down and the dunnock fled; then, the brave dunnock returned and Tane flew down and as the dunnock rose attacked him in the air, hovering and grappling forward at the flying dunnock with his claws. The dunnock was wary after that, and understandably so, and went to the other food cache - but Tane saw and chased him from there too. Each time, he returned to me, looking pleased with himself. And in between, he attacked a blue tit.

That was the first time I had seen him chase away birds who were not robins.

Strangely, twice recently I have seen him alongside a second robin. They have not been courting, as Bobbit courted Tiny, but were just close together and not screaming or chasing. Neither time did this state of affairs last long. On both occasions, one left and the other followed or chased. But it did not have the same energy as the territorial disputes I have seen. So I wonder if he has made some kind of treaty with a female.

Subsequently, the dunnocks have not appeared unduly traumatised.

Tane seems to be defending me - as he sings over my head after greeting me. I am glad at his presence which truly is a blessing when other aspects of life seem as dull and dark as the February weather.