There's a huge 'Who owns the bird feeder' type power struggle going on between the robins at the moment. The protagonists are:
Mr Small Old Established robin v Mr Big Young Usurper.
BYU has all the physical advantages, hight, weight, reach etc, but Mr SOE has years of experience and a total disregard for his own safety.
The early skirmishes have been short and brutal. they go something like this.
SOE hides in a conifer and peeps at the bird feeder through a gap in the foliage.
BYU lands on said feeder. Doesn't eat, but struts around flexing his muscles.
SOE comes screaming out of the conifer and hits BYU like a scud missile.
They roll around together locked in battle. Sometimes they fall to the ground, sometimes one of them manages to grab a hold of the peanut mesh with one claw and they hang suspended over the fat-ball feeder, jerking around like little red bobbles on a Christmas cardigan.
BYU knows he's bigger and stronger, but he's unnerved by the sheer fury of the assault.
SOE is street-smart, and breaks off the attack before BYU can gather his wits.
BYU flies off over the hedge.
SOE goes back into the conifer and resumes his vigil....
Who's going to win? I honestly don't know. I think I'm kinda rooting for the little guy, buy at the moment, it's too close to call.
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