A Willow Tit In My Garden!

[spathiphyllum]

For the first time ever i spotted a willow tit on my feeder :) At first i was baffled to what it was as I usually only get gold finch on my niger seeds

[spathiphyllum]

What a cute little bird

[Barmaid]

They are cute. Not as cute as long tailed tits though. They are just tiny feathered bundles of cuteness.

[spathiphyllum]

I've not had the pleasure of seeing one of those anywhere let alone my garden

[spathiphyllum]

https://www.britishbirdlovers.co.uk/images/news/long-tailed-tit.jpg

Aww :)

[Barmaid]

You'll rarely see just one - normally when I see them there is a small flock of about 15 or so. They love the lard cakes we put out.

Never had a Willow tit or Marsh tit though. Loads of Great tits, blue tits and coal tits.

[spathiphyllum]

Yes the regular tit i get is the blue one. I don't think I get many more..

Usually it's gold finches and blue tits, the occasional sparrows and i also get some collared doves

I stopped feeding them over the summer as it slipped my mind a bit and the weather was warm but now it's getting cold, I have started putting suet balls and things like pinecones dipped in suet out for them to help with their source of fat.

I think it's more important to feed them over winter as food can be more scarce

[Barmaid]

And water! Dont forget water! It's not so bad at the moment because there is water everywhere, but when it starts freezing they'll need that.

Goldfinches are such pretty little things - I love the way they squabble.

Over the last week or so there have been more birds about. The woodpeckers have started coming to the nuts regularly now - we hadnt seen them for about 6 weeks.

[spathiphyllum]

I only get 2 or three and have never heard them make a noise :(

But yes I also have water out for them. I put the water at the top of the feeder tree I have because if it's lower they poop in it! :( lol

I also have a water bowl on the floor away from the feeder for the garden visitors such as hogs, cats and foxes that may visit and need quenching

I've never had a wood *** :( At the moment though, I only have suet and niger seeds on the tree

[spathiphyllum]

***

[spathiphyllum]

woodpecker *

[Barmaid]

I think you have been thwarted by the smut filter.

Woodpecker with no space seems to work! I am amazed the word tit got through..........

[spathiphyllum]

They should amend the filter for the bird section :D Some birds have some colourful names

Isn't it lucky the UK doesn't get any red-shafted flicker's

[Chipchopper]

I actually saw a willow tit on my feeders a couple of weeks ago but couldn't be a 100% sure if they were marsh tits or not, still always good to see something new in the garden!.

Its like a feeding frenzy, here at the mo, so must order some more feed.
Hope these posts encourage more folks to help our feathered friends to survive !

[spathiphyllum]

It's not been a feeding frenzy my ends since spring! I think the starlings scared everyone off because I got about 25 at a time before I stopped putting food out for the summer.

Now you mention Marsh tits Chip, that could have well been what it was.. Looking at the photo of the marsh tit compared to the willow, to me they are identical! It could have been one or the other.

[Barmaid]

I dont think I could tell the difference between the two. Mr BM could but he is very good with the birds ;)

I just went and sat outside for 10 mins and a female sparrowhawk came whooshing through - unsuccessfully this time though.

[Canary42]

[melv16]

Over the years I've seen several. My best view was in Asda car park, of all places. Luckily, my bins were in the car. Got some strange looks from other shoppers.