Reading the Robin's Mind.

I was doing a little work in the garden today when a baby robin flew past me and settled close to my foot. He or she began to peck things from the ground – disturbed insects I assume – while I stood enthralled by this adorable little bird looking resplendent in his (or her) still-speckled plumage.

The robin looked sideways at me often, but I couldn’t tell whether the expression on its face meant ‘thank you, human; I needed a change from those rolled oats on the table at the top of your garden’, ‘what a strange creature you are; I wonder how you manage to fly since you don’t have any wings’ or ‘please don’t make any sudden movement or I’ll get spooked and then you’ll have to feel guilty.’

But it was all rather nice anyway.