Tuesday 10 February 2009

Mum's patio birds - part 2

The Long-tailed Tit is one of the most endearing of British birds. Out of the breeding season they flit about in flocks of up to 20 or more. These flocks are usually made up of extended family members. To survive during cold snaps Long-tailed Tits will huddle together in a roost where they form a single feathered clump with numerous protruding tails. During the breeding season 'aunts' and 'uncles' will very often help with the rearing of young. They are probably my favourite out of the Tit family partly because of their looks, but also for their confiding nature when you come across a party of them when on a walk.This one has a slightly cross-eyed look I think! (-:Of course the Blue Tit is also a pretty cute bird too and has a beautiful clean and sweet song.This male Chaffinch was taking advantage of the snowy perch of one of Mum's planters as it feasted on the seed I'd put out. Again, as with the Robin yesterday, the snow underneath highlighted his colours nicely.I was really annoyed with myself with this photo. This is a cropped photo of a quite distant Fieldfare which had orginially been sitting on my Mum's patio. Unfortunately, I scared it off walking into the living room before I knew it was there so I didn't manage to get a nice close shot of this very smart looking winter visitor to our shores! One day........I'll be going up to visit my Mum again later this week, maybe I'll get to snap some more birds on her patio.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are all fabulous Jen. The LTT is a family orientated bird and a sweet little thing to photograph. Its amazing how they do survive this weather. Never go to Mum's with the camera. {:)

Shelley said...

I love how the LTT works together as a cooperative family! They are such pretty birds! Hope your mum continues to improve!

Anonymous said...

I'm really starting to fall in love with birds of the British Isles. Thanks for the exta details.

Anonymous said...

Jen,
I think I meant never go to Mum's WITHOUT the camera.
{:)

Mary said...

I always smile when I see those long tailed tits :-) They are so cute. I love that first shot of them on the feeder and the face shot. They are such a sweet looking little bird.

Chris said...

Woow, these are very beautiful pictures. Congrats, I love the long-tailed tits, they are so cute!!!

Quiet Paths said...

If a bird could look cuddly those long tailed tits definitely are the epitome of a cuddly bird. Great shots, Jenny. Give my best to your Mum.

Jenny said...

Hi Roy, I thought you must've meant WITHOUT and see you corrected yourself! (-:

Hi Shelley, they are great, I wish I had time to study them more in the breeding season. Mum is now out of hospital as of this afternoon! (-: She cried when she got home! Bless!

Hi Steve, come over anytime, I'd love to take you birding! At least the exchange rate is better for you lot now! (-:

Hi Mary, yes they really are one of the sweetest birds. I remember one of my first trips over to the USA and my first view of a Black and White warbler, I nearly keeled over with the cuteness of it! Actually, that goes for most of your warblers!

Hi Chris, thanks for that, they are very sweet birds and have a cheerful call too.

Hi Christine, they certainly cuddle up to eachother and I wouldn't mind joining them! (-: I will certainly tell my Mum about all the well wishes she has got from you all thanks! By the way, thanks to you and Shelley for spelling Mom 'our' way! (-:

Don Wood said...

Nice piccies I dont get any of your birds apart from blue tits which have just started looking at the nest boxes

Celeste said...

Charming post again Jen with such lovely photos. It is so long since I have seen a Fieldfare I had almost forgotten what they looked like!

Deb said...

Lovely bird photos - your English Robin is very different looking than our Canadian Robin ... and the Chaffinch is stunning.

Jenny said...

Hi Don, do you have nest boxes in your garden then? I would love to but don't feel I want to as we have Poppy cat around. A conflict of interests for me!

Hi Celeste, those Fieldfares are such smart looking birds, I dearly wish I could have got a better photo. Something to aim for! (-:

Hi Deb
Thanks for dropping in on my blog. Yes, the male Chaffinch is a very colourful and one of the most common of our birds so we get to see them alot!

Eve said...

How do those LTTs manage to not bop each other with those tails!! How cute they are. I love it that you put pictures in that you think aren't the best, because we love to see them no matter what!!

Kathie Brown said...

Those long-tailed tits have got to be one of the cutest birds I have ever seen! OMG! You could just eat them up with love! I want one outside my window!