On Thursday of this past week I was at Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District and just before I left had an interesting meeting with a Robin and a Dunnock.

The Dunnock was foraging among the dead leaves on the grassy bank, quite close to the footpath. He seemed to be quite accustomed to humans going past and didn’t fly away. As this path is a popular way down to the water’s edge I suppose that isn’t surprising.

A little to the right of the Dunnock, over by a tree was a Robin engaged in the same occupation, searching for food. I watched them both for a minute or two and took some photos. People walked past, probably wondering what on earth I was pointing my camera at. The Dunnock blended in with the leaves, and the Robin for the majority of the time had his back to us so little or no red breast was on display.  Suddenly, though, Reggie the Robin (I didn’t ask him his name but I think that fits) was in the air and heading for what clearly he thought of as his rightful position.

This lichen covered rock stood higher than the ground around and Reggie occupied it with total confidence. This was his territory. He was lord of this domain, and let no-one doubt it.

However, even the king of the castle has to eat, so after a while he was off again and rooting around under a tree.

But what’s this? Dan the Dunnock has taken advantage of the king’s absence and has installed himself on the throne of green. He’s going to look so impressive to the lady Dunnocks now. He has plans for a harem this Spring and can’t understand why that Robin fellow would be satisfied with just one mate.

Well that’s what he thought, but a bullet shaped Robin arriving at the speed of sound soon disabused him of his thoughts of grandeur. He slips away in a blur and Reggie resumes his rightful place.

This sequence repeated itself several times. Whenever the Robin left to hunt for food the Dunnock flew up onto his place, then within seconds the Robin came like a tornado to expel him.

There was a large log next to the green-covered rock and the Robin would occasionally alight there. A Blackbird also quite liked that log. The Robin didn’t seem to mind that. Maybe he thought he’d lose a fight with a Blackbird, but no way was he going to tolerate a Dunnock on his patch. Robins are very territorial, even outside the breeding season.