Myself and Peter Morgan returned there on Sunday as we both wanted to try and photograph Willow Tit and I posted the three photos below on SWB blog which has caused something of a debate as to whether the bird feeding on the handrail is in fact Willow or Marsh Tit.
Despite the more common tits,Robins and Nuthatches being quite vocal we did not hear either Willow or Marsh Tit on Sunday when two birds were present.
The site has become something of a "hot-spot" for Willow Tit but that is not to say that Marsh Tit is not also present.
2 comments:
If it wasn't for the hint of a pale patch below the nostrils on the upper mandible I'd say this was a Willow Tit without much hesitation. Assuming these are all the same bird (which it looks like is the case as gtr coverts have same displacement), what is most interesting is how different the bird appears in different lighting. In the lower photo, it looks classic Willow, but the upper two look less convincing. Without hearing the call I'm not sure it's possible to say with 100% certainty this is a Willow, but that's what it looks like to me:
1. I think the pale bill mark may just be light falling on a part of the bill that splays and hence lies flatter creating some contrast as it reflects more sky light (certainly no sign of a clear whitish triangle).
2. uniform ear covert/neck sides
3. very strong wing panel
4. apparent warm buff suffusion
Jeff, the next time you go photographing marsh/willow tits, I suggest you take a tape recorder with you!
Barry-the lens is heavy enough,I couldn't carry any more !!
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