Bird experts - can you help?

[Ian]

It's probably obvious to you, but what is this?



Ian

[Gez]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

Looks like a Coal Tit to me.

[Pol]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

I agree with Gez - a Coal tit.

Also a very nice picci. They're fast little birds, not too easy to capture so you did well to get such a clear shot.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

Thanks guys

I knew it was different to ordinary bluetits mainly because of the longer beak and pinky plumage. This one was zooming down to the feeder, picking up a grain and then zooming off again.

What are the tits that have a rather scruffy appearance, with plumage that isn't smooth and they are smaller than average?

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

Thanks guys

I knew it was different to ordinary bluetits mainly because of the longer beak and pinky plumage. This one was zooming down to the feeder, picking up a grain and then zooming off again.

What are the tits that have a rather scruffy appearance, with plumage that isn't smooth and they are smaller than average?

Ian

That's very typical of the way Coal tits feed. We get them back and forth to the hanging feeders in Spring but haven't seen any visiting this Winter.

It sounds as though your 'smaller than average' bird might be a Long-tailed tit. Funny little 'dumpy' birds with a small beak and a long tail, often come in small groups of maybe 4-5 at a time. Dunno for sure though so HERE'S A LINK showing the entire tit family

Whad'ya reckon? Could it have been a Long-tailed? They're pinkish little birds, not too shy most of the time.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

Long tailed tits - yes, that's them, they sometime look like they have beards

We get them from time to time.

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

Long tailed tits - yes, that's them, they sometime look like they have beards

We get them from time to time.

Ian

It seems you're getting a good variety of visitors coming and going now.

It was ages, years, before we finally had Long-tailed tits (LTT) coming down to our feeders. There were plenty high in the Sycamore on the other side of the bottom fence but it took ages before they finally decided to come down into the garden.

I was watching Woodpeckers at the peanuts and the fatballs today. That's what prodded me into getting the camera out. They'd gone by the time I'd fitted the 300mm on though and they didn't come back after I'd plonked myself down near the window.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

It seems you're getting a good variety of visitors coming and going now.

It was ages, years, before we finally had Long-tailed tits (LTT) coming down to our feeders. There were plenty high in the Sycamore on the other side of the bottom fence but it took ages before they finally decided to come down into the garden.

I was watching Woodpeckers at the peanuts and the fatballs today. That's what prodded me into getting the camera out. They'd gone by the time I'd fitted the 300mm on though and they didn't come back after I'd plonked myself down near the window.

Pol

We haven't seen that woodpecker from before Christmas, sadly, but today we had bluetits, coal tits, a robin, blackbirds, starlings, a song thrush, wood pigeons and collared doves - so not too bad!

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

We haven't seen that woodpecker from before Christmas, sadly, but today we had bluetits, coal tits, a robin, blackbirds, starlings, a song thrush, wood pigeons and collared doves - so not too bad!

Ian

Don't forget your Long-tailed tit ... and its flock of family and friends.


Pol

[Ian]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

Don't forget your Long-tailed tit ... and its flock of family and friends.


Pol

There weren't any Long Tailed Tits yesterday - nor any sparrows. And today, with the sun shining and the snow being blown off the tree branches, the feeder has been deserted by all!

Ian

[Pops]

Re: Bird experts - can you help?

You are getting quite a variety now Ian.
Nice to hear you are getting the Long Tailed variety, they are fun to watch and rarely fall out with each other.
When you have a minute google images for a willow-tit. You will see that they are very much like the coal-tit and can easily be mistaken for each other. (Yours is definately a coal tit)