First Willow Tits - and an ID triumph!!

[rainmaker]

Was out and about at Tittesworth reservoir in Cheshire on Saturday. Me and the misuse were chatting to a very nice gent in one of thehides (the one with the feeders for those who know it). He was there for the day, by the looks of it - nice big scope (which he was kind enough to let us look through), bird book, voice recorder & a few bottles of beer (if you're a WABer "hello!" and thanks.

Sat down watching between the feeders and the water and a few common birds showed - chaffinch, blue tit, great tit - when another tit showed - never seen it before, a bit coal tit-like, but sleeker, a bit bigger and very pretty - it could only have been a willow or marsh tit.

After a bit of discussion with the birder, we decided we couldn't decide (it was probably a willow tit because of the westerley location, according to the mans book) - had they pale wing panels??!!

And then! I remembered I actually taken a couple of shots, and with a super large amount of zooming on the camera, we identified the pale wing panels, and made a prompt ID. It was also a first for him!

So thanks to him, an bird book and a hazy photo, our first willow tits

[VinceS]

Nice one. It is a really good feeling when everything comes together and you get a result.
Vince

[tich007mt]

Hi Rainmaker

I was at Tittesworth last week in the very same hide!! Didn't see a willow tit but some very nice long-tailed tits and a great spotted woodpecker. Have made 2 visits there so far and have seen the GSW both times.

Cheers

Tich

[SheffieldPete]

Yup, that pale panel on the one on the left would make me 99% sure of a willow.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by tich007mt

Hi Rainmaker

I was at Tittesworth last week in the very same hide!! Didn't see a willow tit but some very nice long-tailed tits and a great spotted woodpecker. Have made 2 visits there so far and have seen the GSW both times.

Cheers

Tich

It's quite nice seeing the native Kites around there! The weather was soooo nice to - the work round the pond was beautiful

[barquar]

Surely Tittesworth is in Staffordshire Moorlands not Cheshire or is there another Tittensworth,
Barquar

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by barquar

Surely Tittesworth is in Staffordshire Moorlands not Cheshire or is there another Tittensworth,
Barquar

Quite possibly - it's certainly right on the border - just south of Macc, just north of Leek.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by barquar

Surely Tittesworth is in Staffordshire Moorlands not Cheshire or is there another Tittensworth,
Barquar

Yes, I'm sure it is too.

Regards, Chris