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Talkback: Long-tailed tits

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
We first came across them in our garden about three years ago. They would usually be seen in pairs 'hedge hopping' in their search for insects. However this year we are seeing more and more of them and they seem to love the fat balls we hang out. Such beautiful little birds.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    The first time i saw one was several years ago whn i lived in a terraced house with just a back yard, i was really surprsed to see it. And just the other week whilst i was in work i saw aother one i couldnt believe my eyes it was busying itself looking for insects on the trees outside the building, i definately had a birds eye view being on the first floor just right to see the tree tops. It brightened up my day thats for sure.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I don't think I have ever seen long-tailed tits in my garden at all in the twenty odd years I have lived there. Not until this winter that is and then they came in packs!! Six, seven at a time all over the fat balls. I haven't seen them though since end of Feb.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We have seen Long Tailed Tits for the last couple of years at our bird feeding station, particularly after fats, and the seeds in the fats, they only appear for a few weeks January/February, then disappear for the rest of the year, we live in South Wales, is anyone else recording these birds in South Wales, ?, I am a member of Garden Bird Watch for BTO.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Here in mid-Hampshire we have had long-tailed tits for many years, usually accompanied by several blue tits. They come in a flock of ten or more, and last year they brought their youngsters - the garden was alive with them. They really are a joy to see.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We have had long tailed tits in our garden in surrey for at least the last 16 years. They arrive in great crowds like a pack of lively teenagers and flit around the garden collecting insects. This year they are to be seen regularly eating form the peanut feeder usually in pairs.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We live in Surrey and have acid soil with pines growing. There have always been flocks of twittering Long Tailed Tits. They are my favourite member of the tit family and act like comical clowns flitting from tree to tree. However I have noticed they are becoming bolder and venturing nearer to the house. This winter they have been daily visitors to the various fat goodies I have hung out. I had one sit on the window sill and it appeared to be looking inside at me. However, I concluded that it may have caught sight of it's reflection in the glass, and like a budgerigar was enjoying the extra company.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We saw Long Tailed Tits for the first time in our garden about a week ago they looked very happy flitting about the trees Ive never seen them before and grabbed my binocculars to get a closer look, hopefully they're here to stay.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    This Winter we had a group of long-tailed tits that visited our little garden in Wiltshire two or three times a day. What fun they are to watch (and listen to). They didn't go for the fat balls but ate the robin's food, the 'bird pastry' I've been making for years. Havn't seen them recently, I think they must have paired off and found nesting sites elsewhere.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Sitting outside a cafe in the centre of Plymouth last December I was delighted to hear the high-pitched call of a LTT. On looking up at the trees in the central bed opposite I saw a whole flock of at least 30 of them. A real bonus to the soul in the middle of a bleak winters shopping trip ! They then flew off, calling all the time,down the centre planting areas leading to the Hoe
    Not a single person looked up - missing such a delightful display ! I caught the bus home that day with a smile !
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    i have never seen a long tailed tit in all my 45 years until this winter feeding from fat balls in my garden at first i thought they were buggies i brought a bird book and found they were lttbeautiful they are still coming to my garden in leicester
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