Wednesday 19 November 2014

Penduline tit finally gives itself up....

...and there are two!
Unfortunately I did not manage to see the birds, but did allow myself an early lunch break when the news broke.
The two birds flew into the reedmace opposite the hide and then onto the right hand plot in front of fen hide. From talking to the people who saw the bird (6) they were only on show for a matter of seconds and despite a few cameras in the hide no one got a shot, but descriptions suggest a possible male and female?

It's a bit of a relief to be honest as I was very confident of the calls and alarm call that I had heard almost a month ago but now we have the concrete proof that there are certainly 2 penduline tits in the reedbed. In the past few days David B has also seen them but very fleeting and I think only in flight. So will they give themselves up properly this week? I wonder if there have always been two? I wonder if I'll ever get to see them?!

Just a word of warning to those who go for these birds, the fen hide is pretty small and I've given it probably over 20hrs looking for these birds without success, so be prepared for a full hide and a long wait, but good luck!

Ps if anyone in the hide today fancies submitting a description for the bbrc that would be great! So much better than the sound recording I was going to submit!

2 comments:

  1. Hi Ben!
    Brian and I saw them pretty well yesterday and not just in flight. It's always a dilemma: camera or binoculars! I managed to see the male quite well (albeit fleetingly!) and I think Brian got a very blurred photo, which he deleted! The call is hyper-distinctive, though, so if only the crowds keep it down tomorrow, they might get to hear one, at least! LOL!

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  2. Ah I see, I didnt get the impression that you saw them that well, not sure why. Hopefully people will do their homework and the call will give them away. Either way great to have them on the reserve!

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