[pduxon]

After a rather nice amble around Hatfield Forest I ended up with a flock of Long Tail Tits. Obviously there was the odd hanger on Blue, Coal & Great but then I saw something that puzzled me.

I saw what I thought was a Marsh Tit except this one had a pale but definite wing bar not panelling.

It wasn't a Coal Tit I could see the back of the neck clearly and the bib was quite small. Neither was was it a drab Great Tit as it got chased off by a Blue Tit which was the same size.

On the bird guide DVD there is a marsh similar(the one that is feeding) but this bar was more pronounced. I suppose it was aberant or something but interesting

[Gerry Hooper]

Did you hear the call at all?

Marsh tit is very distinctive,to me it sounds like it's sneezing.

[pduxon]

Originally Posted by Gerry Hooper

Did you hear the call at all?

Marsh tit is very distinctive,to me it sounds like it's sneezing.

The bird itself wasn't calling but there was a "sneezing" sound about. To be honest if I hadn't seen the wing bar I would have just said Marsh. I haven't seen it on any of the other Marshes I've seen.

[seb_seb]

Could it not be a willow tit?

[pduxon]

I doubt it, there were no panels, the habitat etc would suggest Marsh. And ayway Willow's are rare in Essex. I'd like it to be a Willow!!