Willow Tit Hanging On

The 1st and 2nd March were spent focussing on a search for Willow Tit. I set up my feeder as usual and waited patiently, but I have to say, having failed on 22nd February, I expected the worst, i.e. that I'd have to resign myself to the fact that this charismatic species had vanished from the local reserve, and I would have to look elsewhere perhaps. Imagine my delight, then, when mid-morning on 1st, I caught sight of a largish brown tit with a white face and lacking the black markings on the face and chest of Coal and Great Tits. This was it - a beautiful Willow Tit (albeit with the standard plastic bangles that are the norm these days with birds at this reserve). Laying eyes on it was one thing; getting an image of it would be a different matter entirely. These birds are shy in my experience and certainly won't perch openly for long spells like their commoner cousins. Anyway, with patience and after many failed attempts, I did get the shots I wanted - in fact, my best for many years. And on the 3rd March, it came to the feeder more often than on the day before, and also called repeatedly, especially as it approached.

The above shot is probably my best, but I had about twenty keepers from the two sessions - not a bad haul in the circumstances, and certainly far better than in previous years. There were the usual commoner species, but I also enjoyed cracking views of Goldcrest and got some really nice images of a calling male right next to the feeder.