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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Black-headed Gulls (1 Viewer)

Red Loral

Red Loral
Hi Firecrest,
I have continued my thread in this section in place, in place of the general correspondance page, where I originally put the initial post.

Thank you for the tip about the wing coloring. Today the gull appeared and it had grey/black plumage beneath its wings (primaries).

You were right in its identification as a Black-headed gull.

Another identification problem.

I recently visited Fairburn Ings on my return from a trip up to Darlington. I watched the birds on the feeder and saw a Tit, it was either a Willow Tit or a Marsh Tit. The plumage was very distinct so I assummed it may have been a Marsh Tit, although the two variants are very similar. Looking at my field guide it appears that the Marsh Tit population is significantly higher, so my assumption is that it was a Marsh Tit.

Help required.

Best regards

Red Loral
 
It is quite difficult to tell the difference between Marsh and Willow tits as they are very similar. There are ways to tell them apart, the easyest being their song/calls are different, but they have slight differences in plumage as well. Have a look at these other threads for pointers:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=78391&highlight=marsh
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=76075&highlight=willow+marsh
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=75771&highlight=willow+marsh
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=75163&highlight=willow+marsh
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=72210&highlight=willow+marsh

I hope this helps and dosn't just put you off! Don't worry as i've found even the pros stuggle sometimes!

Gareth
 
The birds on the feeders at Fairburn are invariably Willow Tits. Marsh Tit is quite unusual there, although it does occur in the more mature woodland further up the Aire valley towards Leeds.

Willow Tits are nationally decreasing, and locally extinct in the south-east, but around here they are very easy to see as they are frequent visitors to feeders at a number of West and South Yorkshire locations.

Gareth's links show how difficult this pair are - having now mastered it I would say the calls/voice and the head size/shape/shading are the two key ID features.

Graham
 
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