A rewrite of a post I made during the festive season last year.
The original has had the most views of all the posts I have made during the last 12 months.
In 1965 when I was 9 years old my parents took my brother and I to Dorset for a lovely summer holiday in Bournemouth.
One afternoon for a treat we went to the local cinema to see the latest blockbuster... Mary Poppins.
One afternoon for a treat we went to the local cinema to see the latest blockbuster... Mary Poppins.
The film was a period piece set in London during 1910.
I have two very vivid memories of that day.
We were always given an ice cream at our local cinema during the interval but on this day we had hot dogs as our treat....brilliant.
The other memory or really a question that has nagged away at me over the years was the size of the Robin that appeared during the song "Spoonful of Sugar"
It looked more like a Blackbird they had painted red to me.
American Robin (Turdus migratorious) photo by Hilke Breder.
I have been introduced to images of the American Robin from fellow birders and bloggers in the USA and it dawned on me (after I had hit myself with a big stick) that they had used their little bird instead of ours for the bigger US audience and it is a thrush related to our Blackbird.
Our little Robin is the smaller than a sparrow and is a lovely little bird.... it's my new winter header.
Robin (Erithacus rubecula).
Both birds are lovely to see and 45 years after watching the film I finally got rid of that nagging doubt.
To see more wonderful birds visit click on the image below to visit.
World Bird Wednesday LVII
To see more wonderful birds visit click on the image below to visit.
World Bird Wednesday LVII
Your Robin is a beautiful little bird, Until I started blogging, did I see your little Robin. He is lovely to see. Our Robin is the sign every spring, that spring has actually arrived.
ReplyDeleteYour winter Header is wonderful.
Learning something new every day. I'm not familiar with either of these robins. Love your photos of the little one.
ReplyDeleteIt's great, either here or over in USA/Canada. I love your header also.
ReplyDeleteI never knew the American robin was a different kind of bird. Not that I ever had cause to wonder about it. I don't remember the bird from the Mary Poppins film ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful little bird, Andrew
ReplyDeleteIt make a beautiful header for your blog...
had not every thought of that, but you're right! i think your English robin is a lovely little thing!
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew...Well there we both have the Robin thing straight lol
ReplyDeleteI didn't have to hit myself in the head though : }
I have to say I love your Robin more then ours...It is so precious looking...and I love your new header ; }
Grace
I think I saw Mary Poppins towards the end of the 60's. It makes sense because we always got movies and TV shows a few years later than Britain and the US (and we still do!) I always loved that movie, and I memorized Supercalifragilisticexpialidosious just to impress my friends :-) Have to admit I don't remember the bird....
ReplyDeleteI saw a stage version in Sydney this summer, a very enjoyable show.
Great shots, and I really hope you make the top 100 list!
That was a movie I have fond memories of and yes that is our robin.. funny that you had such a specific memory of that. For a while when given medicine, my Father (raised mostly by my Father) would put sugar on the spoon hoping to make us think of Mary Poppins....Michelle
ReplyDeleteVery nice header. It seems to load much faster as a bonus. I'm not sure about Mary Poppins.
ReplyDeleteThat header photo is outstanding. Great job Andrew. I never saw Mary Poppins.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteYour new header is stunning!
I have started noticing little `mistakes` in films! There are quite a few where birds are involved! Among the most often seen or heard are collared doves seen in 19th century based things set in the U.K.( the bird didn`t arrive to our shores until the 1960`s!
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES
I've never seen the film, but it was one of my most loved books (still is!!!)
ReplyDeleteI love your new header!
WHile I have photographed our American Robin many times, I do think thay yours is much more attractive, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteThe movie I've never seen, but it's a great allowance.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird and great photos, Andrew! I love the detail in that last picture.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post and great photos. Unfortunately film makers are not always careful with the birds or bird sounds!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and your robin is very pretty. Wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE You little Robin!
ReplyDeleteI remember your previous post Andrew :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the new header; perfect for this time of year. Cracking little bird.
I loved your post last year and I love this semi-reprieve as well. Your new header is a real stunner!
ReplyDeleteWe have about a dozen different robins here and ours are much like yours, tiny. Usually you just see flashes or red or brilliant pink. The biggest of them is the Victorian yellow robin.
I noticed your new header right away! It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour two images of the Eurasian Robin are gorgeous, especially the one the snow-covered leaves. I have several lousy photos of such a robin taken during my trips to Germany. Although they are common they are harder to photograph, being so small and shyer than our robins. Nice Christmas post. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteDick Van Dykes horrid cockney accent ruined Mary Poppins for me. Why couldn't they have let Michael Caine do the part? And hotdogs will never be a substitute for ice cream...end rant. However; I would like to officially appologise for the troubling use of an American robin being substituted for a real cockney one. Not that I had anything to do with it, but by the mere fact that Hollywood is in my native country I feel some guilt by association for this gigantic hoax. Time for a remake!
ReplyDeleteCheers Andrew!
I love our American Robins and yet everytime I view the Robins in Europe, I am so taken by their beauty. Wonderful post! Merry Christmas~
ReplyDeleteI love your European Robin Andrew! The header shot is awesome but that second, closeup shot really shows that beautiful little bird exceptionally well.
ReplyDelete