Robin

I came across this robin as I went for my lunchtime walk in Kendal. He was in the middle of a territorial dispute with his neighbours which maybe explains why he was a little puffed up.

The nation's favourite bird? It was certainly my Mum's favourite, and a view like this always reminds me of her. Last year was an unusual breeding season for us, we had none in our garden at all. They reappeared in the Autumn, and are singing well now, so hopefully they will stay with us through Spring and Summer this year.

Settlers to Australia and New Zealand introduced many of their familiar birds from home, the robin was no exception. But unlike so many other species which thrived and sometimes displaced native birds, the robins were unsuccessful. In the States, nostalgia for the European bird inspired the naming of the American Robin, a member of the thrush family.

Blipping gives us a stronger connection with other parts of the world than TV or radio news can ever do. We woke up this morning to the awful news of the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Our thoughts are with our friends and their families who live in and around the city.