American Robin and Winterberry Holly

Winterberry Holly (Ilex virticillata) as its namesake would suggest, shows off its best side in winter - bright red berries - just when the landscape is at its greyest. But that's not its coolest attribute. Although highly noticeable in late summer, fall, and deep into winter, the fruit doesn't reach peak ripening until mid-March. The perfect phenological time when birds and other animals are desperate for a high caloric boost of energy.

Having said that, the image below was captured this past weekend in a wet meadow in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey. This meadow was alive with bluebirds, white-throated-field and song sparrows, kinglets, and waxwings, and tons and tons of robins. I figured if I set up my Nikon Z8 with a 500mm PF lens and sit for a while I might just get a bird landing on the holly with all those bright red berries - any bird would do. I didn't expect that any living creature would be after those less-than ripe berries just yet. Imagine my pleasant surprise when a robin came down and started flipping berries into its beak.

Sometimes the photography gods shine down!

Robin and Winterberry BLG 1