Robin nesting and

The robin is generally a non-confrontational bird. It tolerates other species and even keeps moderately close company with humans. Well, that is its normal behaviour. But when you are deemed to be too close to it when it is feeding its chicks, it is also one (of the few?) that will attack you to drive you off. This does not seem to happen often, but it looks like it will happen again soon.

There are also a few other shots posted today.

This seemingly pregnant robin was collecting dried grass for its nest. At the time, I did not know where the nest was going to be, so I thought little of it.

Alas, the nest turned out to be atop a light near my door. 

Now, every time I go in or out, the robin squawks at me as it flies off. This is expected to last for about two weeks of incubation. After that there is another two weeks in which the nestlings are being fed by the mother. It is this period when she becomes really defensive and will attack passing humans. Sigh, there approaches about a month of caution.

Not all chicks are protected in the way that a robin’s are. These mallard chicks were really close with the mother not caring that a human is close.

Now two pictures of unrelated things. This is a Common Ringlet seen while hunting crab spiders on daisies.

And another shot of a crab spider sucking the juces out of a bug.