When is a moustache a beard?
THERE is much excitement in our office at the moment – bearded tits have been photographed at our Lunt Meadows nature reserve in Merseyside.
And they have been around for a week or so now, in a gang of 14 or 15 – I’m not sure what the collective name is for bearded tits.
I haven’t seen one for years so I will be taking a look early next week. I am pretty thrilled that I may get a glimpse of these beautiful birds.
They are small cinnamon-brown birds with a long, brown tails. They have a grey head with a black “moustache” - rather than a beard - and a yellow bill and eyes. Females are less colourful than males, and do not have the moustache.
In fact, who on earth named them “bearded” tits? Moustachioed tits might be an even better name.
Bearded tits in the North West are resident birds and were mainly recorded at Leighton Moss in Lancashire, after they became established in 1973. So the fact that we now seem to have a settlement on one on our nature reserves is great news for the staff and volunteers who create these perfect habitats.
When Leighton Moss, which is a super RSPB reserve had more than 100 birds in 2010, it was five per cent of the UK population.
The bearded tit lives in those reed beds and feeds on the reed seeds and insects. Nests are low in the reeds on piles of dead stems.
If you are wandering through a reed bed and hear a nasal “ting” or a “ping” it is likely to be a bearded tit flying around.
Here’s a did you know for people who like did you knows. The bearded tit is also known as “bearded reedling” or “bearded parrotbill” but it is not actually a tit or parrotbill, it has now been assigned to its own family.
This is why people get into ornithology, it is just so fascinating. For every bird there are five or 10 brilliant facts with which you can amaze your friends. I can’t wait to overhear the parrotbill conversation in my local café.
I love talking to birders, just to hear their absolute passion. They have an infectious excitement when they see something new. And they are generally lovely people.
I have been into many packed hides where birders are only too keen to share their scopes to show visitors something really special.
So I will be packing my camera and my binoculars and heading off to Merseyside next week to get a glimpse of the bearded tit.
And the week after? Who knows what we might find in our wonderfully diverse region?
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 29,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers. To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www. lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust. org.uk.