Saturday 7 May 2016

WBW - Tit Family.

All the birds called 'Tits' featured in this post are mainly woodland breeding species that I regularly encounter on my patch walks and with one exception are also regular garden feeder visitors plus two species have nested in the garden some years.

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). A common breeding resident on my local patch and a regular daily visitor to the garden feeder also using one of the three nest boxes in most years. Unfortunately no evidence of nesting in a box so far this year. As a youngster I remember their antics of  breaking through the milk bottle tops sitting on the doorstep and stealing the creamy top off the milk.


Coal Tit (Periparus ater). A resident mainly of coniferous or mixed woodland that often makes use of garden feeders during the winter months. It has a repetitive piercing call of  'situi' and 'tsevi' enabling the watcher to home in on its location within the woodland canopy. Excluding the Crested Tit, which is found in the northern Caledonian pine forests, it is our smallest Tit species.

Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) whose name doesn't match its habitat of damper deciduous woods. I usually  identify their presence by their call; a 'pitchoo' which sounds a bit like a sneeze but sightings are very infrequent hence the lack of suitable images to post here.
Often confused with the similar black capped but slightly larger Willow Tit which is now something of a rarity in Surrey with my last recorded sighting in 2008.

Great Tit (Parus major) uttering its repetitive 'teacher teacher' notes. Easily identified as it is the largest of our Tits and also well adapted to nesting in gardens. When visiting the feeders it will often fight off other, smaller tits to get to the food but the resident Robin will always boss them around!


Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus). This one is not closely related to the other 'true' tits but a member of the small Aegithalidae (Bushtit) family. I always enjoy an encounter with these active and acrobatic feeders, often in a group, when they are hunting insects and spiders amongst the smaller branches while constantly chatting to one another. During the occasional hard winters we might a few visits to the garden feeders.


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16 comments:

  1. Thank you for the additional information Frank. I like learning about different birds and looking at the similarities in my own yard birds here...Michelle

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  2. Hello Frank!:) I love the Tit Family, and enjoyed seeing your excellent captures, and reading your informative post. I see most of these tits in my woodland garden with the exception of the March tit, and I only occasionally see the Long-tailed Tit, which are the most timid. The little Coal Tits on the other hand are fearless, and they have even taken food from my hand. Best Regards.:)

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  3. What a cute family of birds, great series of photos. Enjoy your day and the week ahead!

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    1. Thanks Eileen. Hoping for a few days of proper sunshine.

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  4. Silver Parrot commented:

    I couldn't get the regular comment box to work so I'm using the "reply" button under one of the previous comments - hope that's okay.

    I love the photos of the Blue Tits - they are one of my favorite non-American birds to look at. The Coal Tits look SO MUCH like our Mountain Chickadees! Great series of photos and very informative!

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  5. Great series of beautiful birds.

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  6. What a wonderful variety of birds Frank, and wonderful photos. You have captured them beautifully.

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  7. Frank, next year, do you think you could meet me at the Bird Sanctuary in Aruba? ......LOL...but I sure would like your knowledge filling my head! Awesome collection here for sure!...:)JP

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    1. JP. Anything is possible with the right incentive.

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  8. Lovely tit photos, Frank!
    Your garden looks like paradise for the birds and probably many other species of creatures.
    Keep well and enjoy your day

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  9. Lovely Tits species, love them, thanks Frank.

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  10. Hi Everyone.

    Many thanks for your visits and compliments. I hoe you'll drop by again in the future. Cheers ... FAB.

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  11. Wonderful photos! I love tits. They're adorable little birds.

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  12. Absolutely incredible series. So colorful they all are. And picture post card images. Well done.

    Thanks again!

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  13. I do rather miss these birds - its always great to catch up with them when(and if!) I travel.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  14. Absolutely fantastic photos !!
    Greetings

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I hope you enjoyed your visit and I appreciate your comments.