Willow Tits

[StarainBoy]

I've just bloggedA walk down to Trimpley Reservoir brought my first marsh tit sighting for a couple of months. I was actually on the trail of a willow tit. I thought I heard one but it’s been nearly six years since I even logged one and I’m quite out of touch with its call.and wonder if willow tits still exist in Worcs.

[Dog]

According to the 2006 West Midland Bird Report the last known breeding pair was at Bittell res that year although they probably still occur in less birded areas. In Shropshire round Bridgenorth while surveying large areas of farmland I would occasionaly come across the odd pair in scruby hedge lines with ditches with flowing water.

Mike.

[StarainBoy]

Thanks, Mike. I'll probably be checking Trimpley again since the old aunt lives out that way. I was wondering about the call then and am happier about it now after checking my Roché recordings.

[Dog]

I find that nazely call very distinctive which attracts your attention to them in thick willow carr, Brandon Marsh has been good this year for them & 1 in the winter was coming to a feeder in the carpark at Ladywalk. Its only in the last couple of years that I have started to note all my sightings of these birds.

Mike.

[StarainBoy]

Worth going abroad to Warwickshire then!

[Sy V]

We're ringing in Chaddesley Wood next month and I've been told we have a chance of trapping some, there.

[StarainBoy]

That's over by the aunt as well! A place I've meant to visit for a while, especially with the quail calling nearby in the summer. (I can refer to the summer as being past now, can I?)

[midlands birder]

i had a pair at blackstone rock(well a little downriver from there) in stourport/kiddie area on 5/07/09 shows there are still a few around,also a few in the wyre if i remember rightly
MB