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marsh tit ? dundee (1 Viewer)

kawwauser

kawwauser

Well-known member
somebody submitted a pic to the local press for there readers page with the incorrect caption coal tit,it looks like marsh tit to me ,a very nice bird to find here
 

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Difficult to tell from that photo but, if the colour of the upperparts is remotely correct I'd suspect it's not been taken in the UK. It does, however, have a Marsh Tit feel to it even though the 'bib' looks a bit ragged, the bill a bit long and slender and I can see no sign of the white 'spot' at the base of the bill.

Chris
 
In my day both species were pretty rare in Scotland, and both would have been megas if they had turned up as far north as Dundee. From memory, Willow only occurred in SW Scotland and Marsh in the SE. Maybe the situation has changed in the last thirteen years, but somehow I doubt it.
 
I reckon either would still be pretty mega around Dundee. I'm not seeing the pale spot at the base of the cutting edge of the upper mandible that you expect in a marsh tit...
 
StuartReeves said:
In my day both species were pretty rare in Scotland, and both would have been megas if they had turned up as far north as Dundee. From memory, Willow only occurred in SW Scotland and Marsh in the SE. Maybe the situation has changed in the last thirteen years, but somehow I doubt it.
Click to expand...

I don't think the situation has changed much - if anything both have retreated further.

Assuming this isn't a hoax/mistake, it is a very interesting record. We have had a lot of prolonged easterly airflows this winter!
 
Jos Stratford said:
More of a Willow Tit feel to me
Click to expand...

From the Willow Tit species account in "The Birds of Scotland":

"The northern subspecies borealis has been reported in Scotland on a few occasions, but none have been adequately substantiated for it to be included on the Scottish List. It has been recorded in England and therefore could reach Scotland, so any Willow Tit seen outwith the normal breeding range, particularly on the east coast...should be carefully checked."
 
i have been searching to see if the poster was on facebook but no joy,ill email the press and see if they can contact him
 
Capercaillie71 said:
From the Willow Tit species account in "The Birds of Scotland":

"The northern subspecies borealis has been reported in Scotland on a few occasions, but none have been adequately substantiated for it to be included on the Scottish List. It has been recorded in England and therefore could reach Scotland, so any Willow Tit seen outwith the normal breeding range, particularly on the east coast...should be carefully checked."
Click to expand...

I certainly got a borealis impression from the original photo, though the printing then scanning of the original photo has left it looking a little washed-out so it is difficult to be certain about the colour reproduction.
 
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it was in the dundee evening telegraph on the 14/3/13,they only post one pic a day so pic could have been submitted weeks ago
 
I was with a group in Stornoway Woods in autumn and had a possible Willow Tit in with a large Tit flock. It was never relocated for positive id but was seen by three of the group separately...none realised it being such a rare in Scotland of course so thought nothing of it at the time until it was casually mentioned.
 
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