Everyone knows what robin’s egg blue looks like. We often use that term to describe a pretty shade of blue, perhaps on some piece of clothing or a paint colour, but I think it looks best on the shell of a robin’s egg. I found this half shell two days ago on a cold miserable day when the little bird that hatched out of this shell probably wished he were back inside it.
It is a testimony to how tough the robins are, when they risk nesting so early. It is also evidence that they need as long a growing season as possible for the young birds to grow to adulthood before the fall.
I took this picture of the egg shell when the sun was shining through the living room window for a few minutes that day.
Later I took another picture with the robin’s egg on a piece of white paper, next to a chicken egg as a size comparison. Somehow the “robin’s egg blue” colour looked more faded and greener. What a tiny egg it is, when you consider that the baby bird will grow to be the size of a robin.
“That’s my boy,” the robin chirps. “He’ll grow up to look just like me!”
As a point of interest, this photo of the robin in the dogwood was taken on April 29, 2016.
This year on April 25, this same dogwood tree is just getting tiny leaves and there is no hint of flowers yet. What a difference in temperature. It’s a very long, cold spring this year.
April 25, 2017 at 7:10 pm
Thanks for sharing those eggs. Interesting to see the comparison.
We finally have blooms everywhere here, and I’ve learned that this is the 5th warmest April on record. I’ll try to blow some your way. 🙂
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April 25, 2017 at 7:10 pm
We could sure use some warmth.
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April 25, 2017 at 7:23 pm
They are nesting there much earlier than here. Amazing!
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April 25, 2017 at 7:34 pm
They often start nesting some time in March and then we see the hatched shells in April but this year they are going to freeeeeeze. It’s so cold. This morning when it was sunny, we put the leftover firewood back in the woodpile, thinking we wouldn’t make any more fires in the woodstove. By late afternoon we were bringing the wood back to the house and making another fire.
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April 26, 2017 at 1:03 pm
I took my flannel sheets away, turned off the heat in my house. The sheets are back on my bed and the heat is on again! Rain and cold.
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April 26, 2017 at 1:05 pm
I know just what that’s like!!!
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April 25, 2017 at 7:41 pm
I feel sorry for the birds. We have a bit more sun now for part of the day, but eventually it clouds up and rains! Brrrrr!
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April 25, 2017 at 8:21 pm
Yes, like today. It was nice for a while and then it turned cold and miserable. Hope it passes soon and the warmth comes back.
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April 25, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Reblogged this on marilyncrosbiephotography.
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April 25, 2017 at 8:21 pm
Thanks, Marilyn.
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April 25, 2017 at 9:03 pm
Nature’s art 🙂
Pretty……..
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April 25, 2017 at 10:25 pm
Yes, it is. Thanks, Hans.
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April 26, 2017 at 6:28 am
Such hardy little birds. Wonderful post.
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April 26, 2017 at 7:45 am
Thank you, Belinda.
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April 26, 2017 at 8:16 am
When I saw the title of your post, I thought you had some horrific story about crows raiding a robin’s nest. Whew…this was a much more pleasant story. 🙂 I just love robins and their awkward little babies. Whenever I see the babies appear on the ground, trying to learn to fly, I keep my cats inside. Beautiful photos, as usual!
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April 26, 2017 at 8:25 am
Oh, Sonja…. You hurt my feelings. Do I come across as a writer of horror stories? Sorry! I will try to keep my stories happy ones. Yes, once in a while something sad happens in the real world, but this is a happy story except that I feel sorry for the baby birds being cold.
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April 26, 2017 at 1:05 pm
That vivid blue and then such a contrast on color and size. I love seeing robins. I am not a birder but maybe someday when I have more time.
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April 26, 2017 at 3:51 pm
It’s one of the prettiest colours in nature. Maybe because of the associations we make with it.
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April 26, 2017 at 1:15 pm
The weather is terrible, and yet they survive.
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April 26, 2017 at 3:50 pm
They’re a lot tougher than I am.
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April 26, 2017 at 5:08 pm
Wonderful picture of that sweet baby robin.
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April 26, 2017 at 9:03 pm
Thanks, Bente. 😉
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April 27, 2017 at 2:37 am
Love these shots Anneli
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April 27, 2017 at 6:57 am
TY, David. I hope spring hurries up!
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April 28, 2017 at 10:59 am
Amazing nature. Wonderful photos, Anneli! ❤
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April 28, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Thank you, Dina.
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April 30, 2017 at 3:47 pm
This is a fabulous photo of a robin’s egg, Anneli.What beautiful blue.
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April 30, 2017 at 4:46 pm
How do they do it??? I’d love to have a blouse of that colour.
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May 1, 2017 at 5:53 pm
Or a room painted that colour. 🙂
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May 1, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Very pretty colour.
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May 3, 2017 at 4:55 pm
Last year we had a much warmer and wetter season. It really effects the buds, leaves and blossoms and makes a difference, Anneli. 🙂
I like how the sun made the robin’s egg blue look so pretty. The greenish look is probably more “natural” against the white paper and egg. It looks like what color of shell I have a piece of, too. This was a lovely post!
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May 3, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Thank you, Robin. Yes, it was warmer last year. I can’t believe how cold it still is even now.
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May 3, 2017 at 5:48 pm
We are back to colder weather this week, lows in the 40’s and highs in low 60’s. (Some predicted days in 50’s). Oh well, it will warm up soon! 🙂
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May 3, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Today is cold but next week is supposed to be much warmer. Can’t wait.
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