long tailed tit explosion (1 Viewer)

A

apus

Member

• Mar 15, 2003

• #1

Am I imagining this but, over the past two or three years, has the population of long-tailed tits grown exponentially? Once upon a time, a glimpse of this pink gem was relatively unusual. Nowadays, I see and hear them everywhere and they've become consistent visitors to the garden at the expense (though not literally I suspect) of the little coal tit.

Just another (albeit welcome) effect of global warming and our mild winters???

Observations welcome !

 

seb_seb

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2003

• #2

they are fast becoming most coomon small bird at my bird table......peanuts seeds biscuits but they are always brilliant to see

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2003

• #3

I have to agree, they a regular visitors to feeders around here.

 

Dipper

Well-known member

• Mar 16, 2003

• #4

I've yet to see one at my feeders but work mates have them regularly. Certainly seeing a lot more in the countryside.

 

IanF

Moderator

• Mar 16, 2003

• #5

We only occasionally get them in the garden, but as you say, they seem to be a lot more common in the countryside than they used to be.

 

dylan

Well-known member

• Mar 16, 2003

• #6

I'd never seen one until last year but see them all the time now, I assumed I was looking harder these days.

 

seb_seb

Well-known member

• Mar 16, 2003

• #7

also i think because of easier food found in gardens round here...they are nesting in the area...before they went off to woodland to breed..but have seen nest building in ivy covered stumps and that kind of stuff

 

A

adrian

New member

• Apr 12, 2003

• #8

They seem to be increasing in Lancashire.

 

tarves57

Well-known member

• Apr 12, 2003

• #9

I'd never seen one in my life until recently, and I was brought up in rural Aberdeenshire and was always keen on nature.
(long long time ago.....).
It could be because I'm further south in Edinburgh though.

Susan

 

A

alanhill

Well-known member

• Apr 13, 2003

• #10

They are very numerous in the south Manchester/north Cheshire area, mush more so than a few years ago.

The long-tailed tit population has always swung up and down according to the severity of the winter. A really hard winter can almost wipe them out. However we've had a succession of mild winters and that's the reason for the present high numbers.

Alan Hill

 

L

lavena

New member

• Apr 17, 2003

• #11

Long-tailed Tits

Although we have always had Long-tailed Tits in the neigbourhood in the last month a pair have started to visit the peanut feeder. They appear like clockwork in late afternoon.

 

P

peter hayes

Guest

• Apr 17, 2003

• #12

I've certainly seen a few recently, and they're a great sight.