No batman but... here's robin!

Yes. I know. Very lame joke (you'll see it in a few seconds). But this week's theme for SMAP is small bird; and I couldn't help thinking about... robin!

^{European robin - Erithacus rubecula}

See? :)

Small birds was what I saw the most in my last vacations. I love watching passerines, but getting decent photos is another business. Yes, some are great posers, but most of them seem like little ninjas jumping back and forth on every little twig! Robins fall somewhere between the posers and the ninjas, and truth be told, some of them are quite friendly. This one only allowed me this photo on the perfect location, before flying away. But honestly, my favourite robin photo of the vacations is this next one.

A perfectly focused photo with all the branches in front, and the little bugger just staring at me! All the reading and video watching on how to better focus with this camera payed out, because 99% of the time, I have this...

... the perfectly in focus branch, with the blurred bird in the background. Most of you can relate, right?

Also during these vacations, a debut on my camera: rock buntings!

^{Rock bunting - Emberiza cia}

Rock buntings were one of my first ever identified species when I started birdwatching here, and I had never been able to photograph them, until now. That head pattern is perfectly distintive, so they're very easy to recognise! Unfortunately, I couldn't get a closer photo.

Another very common species in this area, are these guys. Again, not that much luck in getting those "aha!" photos.

^{Common chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs}

In huge bands, but normally flying or perched, and this bunch was rather shy, flying away as soon as I got closer. Fortunately... there were some exceptions!

Probably because he had more interesting things to do! Feeding time is scared, right?

What better way to end this post if not with a "ninja" species? These are the one you can easily hear, sometimes see, but hardly stand still more than a couple of seconds!

^{Eurasian blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla, male}

Blackcaps are sneaky little creatures! I won't even complain about the branches in front here, given I was lucky enough to be on the right place at the right time. Males and females are easily distinguished, since males have a black cap and females a reddish one.

Happy birdwatching!

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