Thanks Peter. I was using a setting on my camera which at first I didn't understand (or believe). Press the shutter release and you get not only 15 frames from the half-second following the press, but also 15 frames from the half-second prior to pressing the button. So I focused on the robin perched on a twig, waited until it took off, and then pressed the shutter release. Normally that would be a stern test of reaction, both mine and the camera, but this facility gives me a sequence of 30 pictures from posing on a twig to disappearing from the frame. If nothing else I've learned that robins do a little hop before taking off.