Going mushy over these tiny balls of fluff
WHEN you tell people you have seen a longtailed tit in your garden, they gush about how beautiful this tiny bird is.
They gush about a ball of fluff on a stick, for that is how people describe the long-tailed tit, they go all mushy.
So it’s surprising that this much-loved creature is not in the top 10 of Britain’s favourite birds.
Perhaps, it’s because we don’t see them as much as robins, wrens, blackbirds and blue tits, while they do feed in gardens you are more likely to see them in woodland.
At this time of year, particularly, there will be flocks of up to 20 in woods, parks and some gardens, sticking together to stay warm in the colder months, especially at night.
The long-tailed tit is easily recognised by its long tail.
It is a small, pretty, pink, black and white bird around 14cm long, because of that tail.
They will be actively feeding at the moment, seeking insects and spiders but your feeders will provide a helping buffet as they prepare for the spring love fest.
As the months warm up, long-tailed tits will build domed nests out of moss in bushes or in the forks of trees.
They will line the nests with feathers to ensure their chicks have a lovely soft nursery.
Until things warm up a bit, you will see lots of flocks of birds – blue tits, coal tits and sparrows will arrive at your bird table together.
Sometimes they may be joined by long-tailed tits and willow tits.
It is always worth keeping an eye on your bird table visitors in winter in case there are some rarities – birds will travel further than usual to hunt out food when it is scarce.
I have a small garden and we do get long-tailed tits in the tree. They will have stretched their hunting area from the local woods and ended up discovering my fat-filled feeders.
My favourite encounter with these lovely birds was in Scotland.
I was retracing the steps of the author Neil M Gunn from his book Highland River about his life in Dunbeath.
Halfway along the trail, I was sitting, eating my lunch and was delighted to see at least a dozen long-tailed tits in a tree.
My plan was to bring the book to life that day and the birds certainly added something special. So, spotting them in my garden always reminds me of that lovely trip as well as brightening my winter doorstep.