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Monday, 9 January 2012
Marsh tit
Jeff emailed me his photos and have uploaded them as larger files.See what you think!
To be honest , this latest and previous discussions just makes me realise that there are a lot of birders that are 1 easily influenced by other birders as to what they've seen 2 don't know as much as they should. Just to prove my point I think it's a coal tit
Interestingly when these were commoner we seemed to have no trouble telling them apart ( perhaps we sometimes got it wrong). Agree on Willow for this one but in any case calls were always considered diagnostic.
btw Dai its not that easy - all the features mentioned e.g. wing panel,glossy head, bib size are merely 'pointers' to an ID and are by no means conclusive with all of these and call - you can be fairly certain of ID. WITH THE BILL FEATURES - its 99% SORTED.
Rich, and there was me thinking you were always up for a good debate, particularly where Tits were involved ! Jeff's pic below shows a better bill angle and concerns about a white area on the bill appear to be misplaced.
12 comments:
Checked this out,interesting reading :-
http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Willow-Marsh-Tits.pdf
The pale panel on the wing makes this a definite willow tit (ref- RSPB)
To be honest , this latest and previous discussions
just makes me realise that there are a lot of birders that are
1 easily influenced by other birders as to what they've seen
2 don't know as much as they should.
Just to prove my point I think it's a coal tit
def Willow Tit, pale wing panel, bull-necked appearance, right habitat, call would clinch it, dont know what all the fuss is about !
Willow Tit
Interestingly when these were commoner we seemed to have no trouble telling them apart ( perhaps we sometimes got it wrong).
Agree on Willow for this one but in any case calls were always considered diagnostic.
These birds were calling the Willow call all the time so why the debate?
btw Dai its not that easy - all the features mentioned e.g. wing panel,glossy head, bib size are merely 'pointers' to an ID and are by no means conclusive with all of these and call - you can be fairly certain of ID. WITH THE BILL FEATURES - its 99% SORTED.
Great Shots Jeff!!!
Rich, and there was me thinking you were always up for a good debate, particularly where Tits were involved ! Jeff's pic below shows a better bill angle and concerns about a white area on the bill appear to be misplaced.
Thank you, Richard - When my grandmother receives her next delivery of eggs I'll send her around to see you :-)
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