With Christmas almost upon us and as winter closes in, my mind wanders to sub-Saharan Africa, where our summer breeding visitors including swallows, swifts, martins and warblers are now enjoying sun-drenched warm days.

Of course, those species have been replaced by our attractive winter guests including redwings and fieldfares but the only birds to guarantee a festive singalong are our friendly garden robins, long-term symbols of Christmas cheer and very busy birds at the moment adorning cards and wrapping paper.

They have also appeared on Christmas stamps and are the subject of numerous poems dating from way back in the sixteenth century. Many years ago, postmen, who once wore red waistcoats were nicknamed robins.

We are so used to welcoming robins to the garden where they follow us around as we dig up weeds, often approaching within a few inches, showing no fear. So it's surprising to learn that the bird is much less tame on the Continent. They are also very pugnacious and territorial and can fight to the death on occasions defending their home patch.

But according to the ancient rhyme, cock robin was killed by a sparrow using his bow and arrow. However unlikely that may be, with sparrows now so scarce, there is little fear of a repeat performance so let us enjoy our robins over the festive period as they serenade us, often throughout the night.

A very happy Christmas and prosperous 2015 to Nature Notes readers.