This rather gorgeous speckled little thing came visiting my garden boudoir this week for the first time.
It's a sight that makes my heart sing because it means that a pair of Robins has been successful, either in the garden or nearby. They've managed to build a nest, lay the eggs, raise the chicks and get them to the point where at least this one youngster has popped out into the big wide world.That's no mean feat.
Some of you may not get to see Robins in this very short-lived toddler plumage - pretty cute, no?
In fact, all over the garden young birds are starting to appear. This was a Dunnock fledgling yesterday.
Notice the fleshy pink base to the bill, the remnants of the coloured flanges which help signal to its parents where the food deliveries need to go!
And here, up in my Magnolia, was another fresh face, a young Great Tit, fleshy flanges also still showing, and still with just two bird words that it has learnt - 'Feed me, feed me'.
Sure enough, in came the dutiful parents to satisfy their demanding offspring.
I hope you are all having such moments of delight in your garden. Saving nature starts here, as the next generation emerges
If you want to drop by my RSPB wildlife gardening blog, it is updated every Friday, and I'd love to see you there - www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hfw
We have had plenty of young starlings feeding from their parents.
J