Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs, whose lovely soft muted colours still manage to brighten winter days
Long-tailed tits, Aegithalos caudatus, whirl around the patio like sundae spoons caught up in a blizzard
Coal tits, Periparus ater, have become regular visitors, although I often miss them in the hopping crowds of blue and great tits on the feeders
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Lovely, and lucky you seeing all three of these. xx
Cheers. I was especially pleased to spot the coal tit!
Your coal tits look remarkably like the chickadees that are coming to my feeder now. I don’t have many of them, but at least they’ve found it — and there’s the proof that something may show up at my peanut feeder eventually.
It’s funny how particular the birds are. We ran out of sunflower seeds the other day, so I went to get more, but could only find wild bird mix (including sunflower seeds). I filled up and am still waiting for the birds to come … all except a robin who loves it! Anyhow, your comment made me look up chickadees of course and up popped this article, so you were exactly right. Good luck with the peanuts …
As usual, fabulous bird photos. Your bird studies would make wonderful greetings cards. We don’t get many coal tits here, what a treat to see it.
Thanks Liz. The coal tit was a lovely surprise and does now seem to come fairly often.
Nice shots–I love seeing your birds!!
Thanks. My Gran used to have a feeder stuck to her 2nd floor flat window and I’ve never seen so many blue tits and great tits as visited that. The tap, tap, tapping would have driven me bats!
Beautiful photos, I have not had Long Tail tits for two years now, soooo jealous. They may come if we get some proper cold weather.
What a shame. I am in the happy situation of having neighbours either side of me who stock up massive feeder stations. I reap the rewards I think!
Wonderful shot of the chaffinch – such a lovely fellow. I love your inspired description of the long-tailed tits as they “whirl around the patio like sundae spoons caught up in a blizzard.” I saw a video yesterday of a dozen doing just that around a feeder.
The llts make me think of the kitchen magic scene in one of the Disney films (possibly Snow White). The allusion to spoons was raised by Grantham Ecology first (https://granthamecology.com/2020/01/14/long-tailed-tits/ and definitely worth a look), but fits so perfectly.
A bit of bright for a dull winter’s day!
Paz
Thank you. Exactly right!
Long tail tits are so difficult to photograph, they flit around so much and so quickly, so well done on that. I love chaffinches. This one you’ve photographed will take on darker colours as the year progresses.
Thanks. Yes, I am looking forward to mating season for a colour boost. Sometimes their colours intensify to almost ‘bullfinch’ levels don’t they?
Watching the birds in the garden is one of life’s great joys.
Definitely. Are you doing the RSPB birdwatch this weekend?
I have done it in the past, I am not sure how accurate it is for just one hour.