Coal tit's evening visit

pegasus · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2010, 01:53 PM

We had an unsual experience last night.We were preparing to go out at about 9-00pm, the front door was open was open as i briefly returned to the lounge to pick something up.Suddeny over my shoulder a coal tit flew past and landed on a curtail rail.We attempted to usher it towards the door but it kept flying[ away from us and [moth-like] towards sources of light. I'd tried unsuccessfully to gentle catch it, but to no avail. It eventually flew upstairs and hid on top of the front spare bedroom's wardrobe. We had to go out so we turned the light off to let it rest and calm down. On return we decided the best course of action was to leave it in peace until first light. In the morning i quietly entered the bedroom and the wee thing was sat on the window ledge looking forlornly out of the window.It seemed a little bemused and weary[not suprising really] so i had little problem catching it in gently cupped hands.I released it out of the bedroom window and fortunetly it flew away fast and seemingly uninjured.
Anyone got any ideas to explain why the coal tit would enter our house at
9-00pm

artdemole · #2 (**permalink**) 12-11-2010, 04:43 PM

Cold have been a younger bid just looking for shelter after all the wind of late.

healfdan · #3 (**permalink**) 12-11-2010, 04:44 PM

It was probably roosting and the shaft of light from your house startled it. Immediate reaction is to escape so it flew towards the light believing that to be the open sky. Glad all ended well.

thebeard · #4 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 02:28 PM

nice to see it was ok, we once had a blue tit that entered the house just before we went out. we left it there, as we couldnt wait for it to leave, and it seemed fine when we came back, and after a bit of bother we managed to get it out of the window and into the night

RKB · #5 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 06:45 PM

As said, it was probably roosting in your porch and you disturbed it. Birds almost always fly towards the light - the thing to do is turn all your lights off and close the curtains, and the street lighting outside is then the brightest light, and it should head for the door. You could have used car headlights at a push.

Same trick works during the day - close all curtains and open the door.

That you were able to catch it suggests that it was banging it's head against the window a lot before you went in (birds get up about half an hour before light).

pegasus · #6 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 06:55 PM

Thanks for the replies which confirmed my suspicions of the reasons why it flew in the house. I have a feeling it may have been roosting in the bottom of a hanging basket outside the front porch. Anyway it seemed no worse for the experience of spending the night in our house. I feel guilty i did'nt provide breakfast!

Susie · #7 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 07:21 PM

Going off at a slight tangent, your post reminded me of something which happened on Wednesday.

I pulled into my driveway and sat in the car for a couple of minutes just watching the birds on the feeders in the front garden. Suddenly a bluetit flew over and started to peck at the bottom of the car windows. Initially I thought it was after an insect, but as it moved from window to window I realised this wasn't the case. Then I thought perhaps it could see it's reflection and was displaying territorial behaviour but then it moved around to the other side of the car which would have been in shade and I don't think it would have been able to see a reflection there, also it wasn't interested in the wing mirrors. I've had robins and dunnocks take an interest in the car wing mirrors in spring before and batter themselves senseless against them. After a few minutes I got out of the car and it flew away.

Whatever the cause, which I would be extremely interest to know if anyone has any suggestions, it was fascinating to watch albeit a little bit like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds!!