Willow or Coal Tit?

FUDGEY · #1 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 05:48 AM

Just seen this on a flikr contacts site marked as Coal Tit. It could well be, but the nest sight is more Willow Tit to me. Any one know?

Coal-Tit | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

RKB · #2 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 09:17 AM

You're right. Not many of those left in Dumfries (assuming that's where it is).

If it is, I'd suggest that the photographer contacts the person on this page: The RSPB: Projects: Identifying the cause of the willow tit decline and lets them know they've found a nest, as someone might want to do something with it.

FUDGEY · #3 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 09:41 AM

Thanks RKB, Im not sure of the location, but Ill ask him forward that link on. I have been up at Ken Dee marshes 3 times in the last two weeks and not even heard one. I do fear the worst as I heard/seen them every time last year. Once again thanks a lot.

bigdave60dog · #4 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 09:58 AM

Could well be. Can`t see glossy cap but not particularly Willow tit like round the head.Can`t hear it calling.
For me it`s still a "Mallow Tit".
Dave

RKB · #5 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdave60dog

Could well be. Can`t see glossy cap but not particularly Willow tit like round the head.Can`t hear it calling.
For me it`s still a "Mallow Tit".
Dave

It's got an all-dark bill, a plain whitish cheek and a warm buff fringe where the cheek meets the mantle. You can also see the stepping of the rectrices on the underside of the tail tip on the other pics. It's pretty much as good a Willow Tit as they come.

It is also excavating the hole in the series of pics. Marsh Tit can and do take over Willow holes, and they are partial excavators, but if the photo is in Dumfries then there are no Marsh Tits anywhere near there, and it is the last region for Willow Tit in Scotland.