White blue tit? (1 Viewer)

[JemScout]

Hello
This is my first post. I have a blue tit visitor to my feeders who is very white and grey breasted without any hint of yellow. The head is grey blue and the bird is altogether quite fluffy looking. The eyes are black with the characteristic streak which is grey.
I assume it is a blue tit as it does appear with other blue tits but it is quite distinctive .
Is this usual? Is it a baby?

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

The blue tit does sound unusual, but is unlikely to be a baby at this time of year. It could well be leucistic, which is explained here

Dictionary G-L - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

 

[Julie50]

Welcome - and can you get a photo?

 

[Lisa W]

Hi, welcome to the forum on behalf of the staff and moderators. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful group. Sorry, can’t help with the question.

 

[delia todd]

Hi Jem and a warm welcome from me too.

Leucism is actually a fairly common condition, especially in the darker birds. I've never seen it in a Blue Tit yet, so that would be a rarer occurrence. I'd love to see a picture if you can get one.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I hope to hear about all the birds you see when out and about.

 

[JemScout]

Sadly I am no photographer and it would require a photo through binoculars which is far too technical for me! But thank you for all the comments and the welcome.
I have spotted it on the feeders quite a bit recently and it is quite distinctive .

 

[delia todd]

Sadly I am no photographer and it would require a photo through binoculars which is far too technical for me! But thank you for all the comments and the welcome.
I have spotted it on the feeders quite a bit recently and it is quite distinctive .

Sorry about that... it would have been nice, but we can live with it LOL.

 

[angusmcoatup]

Sadly I am no photographer and it would require a photo through binoculars which is far too technical for me! But thank you for all the comments and the welcome.
I have spotted it on the feeders quite a bit recently and it is quite distinctive .

Welcome to Birdforum. I’m guessing there’s interest in your sighting from some (including me) as there’s a small possibility the bird you’re seeing is an Azure Tit, or hybrid which apparently are kept in captivity in the Uk. Hence why a photo would be handy.
Where are you? I’m guessing Uk?

 

[JemScout]

Yes Hampshire . Ah how interesting. I will try to get a photo but it will only be with my phone 😩

 

[JemScout]

I’ve just looked at some azure tit videos on you tube and they look bluer than mine. Plus mine has more grey on the underbelly .

 

[Chris G6 UXU]

Hello and welcome to the forum, enjoy and all the best.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi ya Jem and welcome aboard and enjoy

 

[Fritz73]

Hola! Welcome to Birdforum

 

[JemScout]

Ok so mot the most amazing photos but here goes

 

[JemScout]

And these

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

belayed: welcome to birdforum from me, too! And thanks for your effort to capture the bird on pictures!

If havent seen one in the wild before, but I think a pure Azure Tit can be excluded with confidence by dark (blueish?) cap, not enough white in the wing and just visible uniform/entire yellowish underparts (yes, just a wash, but compare to the white cheeks), it is still an interesting bird imo:

• are the outer tail-feathers extensive white? This is just guessable from the pictures
• what about any white on the greater and/or median coverts? The last picture seems to indicate that the base (not the tips) or the median coverts might be extensive white. Or have the greater coverts white edges/margins?

I attach a similar pure Blue Tit (16.06.2018, Prenzlau, NE-Germany) with thanks to Steve Klasan, who alerted me about regular whitish-bellied juvenile Blue Tits !

 

[JemScout]

Thank you for your comments Alexander and I agree that it doesn’t look like any images of an azure tit that I have seen so far.
I have had another good look at the bird through binoculars today and no, there is no white in its tail feathers or wing feathers- just a soft grey. and the underbelly is mottled grey and white feathers.
I cannot provide a decent photo I’m sorry to say.
Can anyone advise me on how to use my binoculars and iPhone to do this at all or would that just be a waste of time?

 

[Andy Lakin]

Often Googling a description of what the bird looks like works well.I have done this with other birds with abnormal plumage. Then you can find the nearest match and say things like my bird is similar except for its chest was a paler yellow (just an example) etc.There are threads on here about taking photos through binoculars (digibinning) that look like they may be of help. Be prepared for a lot of frustration as it takes a lot of practise and a lot of luck! It should be a big help that your bird is fairly close.

 

[delia todd]

Can anyone advise me on how to use my binoculars and iPhone to do this at all or would that just be a waste of time?

It really is not easy to do. I only tried it once and quickly gave up. I think you really need to put the bins on a tripod, focus on the bird, then hold the phone's lens up the eyepiece, and try not to move the bins. But the two do need to be compatible to start with I think. But a few people here have managed it.

You could try asking in our Digiscoping forum they will do their best to advise you: The Birdforum Digiscoping Forum
They will need to know which binoculars and phone you have.

Good luck.

 

[01101001]

Can anyone advise me on how to use my binoculars and iPhone to do this at all or would that just be a waste of time?

I think (hope) it's quite easy, actually. What you need to do is focus the bins on the object (or--in 99% of the cases--just set the maximum distance with the dial(s)). Then, you should fasten the strap around the screen and hold its end with the left index finger while holding the open flap of the wallet case with your left thumb (not sure if this method works without a wallet-type case). Keep the strap taut to secure the phone to the bins, and be careful not to drop anything when pulling it around--best test the whole procedure over a soft surface first, and always use both hands when fixing the phone to the bins. Now you can align the phone camera with the upper lens (this should be relatively easy). The whole contraption is best held with the left hand by the lower barrel of the bins (and don't forget about the left index finger and thumb). If your left hand gets tired, you can hold your left hand (together with the equipment) with your right hand for some time (or rest the left hand on something)--this way you don't have to release the grip. Here's what the gear looks like and the result (both devices handheld). If everything goes right, you can even use the phone camera's zoom, too (this photo was taken without it).