This week’s header image on le craic

Isn’t there always something magical about seeing a robin? I guess it’s the same with any bird wearing a bit of colour like that, especially at this time of year.

Some things I didn’t know about the robin from Derek Mooney’s radio show:

• The robin is the only Irish bird that sings continually throughout the winter.
• There are about 4 million robins in Ireland.
• They are very aggressive and territorial. The image of 3 or 4 robins sitting site by side on a Christmas card would never happen in reality as they would tear each other apart.
• In many regions of England and Scotland it was believed that the cow belonging to a family that killed a robin would in future, produce bloody milk.
• Robins entering a hourse have always been thought of as a sign of a forthcoming death.
• Despite the afformentioned aggresiveness, they are one of our friendliest birds and can be encouraged to come close to humans. The photo of the robin above was taken by Boocal and his comment backs this up:

“I met this guy in the car park at the base of Carauntoohil, Co. Kerry. A lot of people picnic there before the assault on the mountain, so he was very tame – let me get really close with the camera.”.

So there ye are now. The robin – a bird bringing colour into the dark Irish winter.

Photo owned by Boocal and adapted for use here under the terms of a CC License.