Coal Tit – A Pretty Little Bird
I set myself a challenge on New Years Day to get a photograph of a Coal Tit. However it rained nearly all day and as my camera is not that waterproof I had to leave it behind. Luckily the rain stopped and the clouds parted late afternoon just as the sun was setting. This gave me just enough light to get a couple of photos of this delightful little bird.
They are similar in size to blue tits but their colouring clearly differentiates them. The Blue Tit is primarily blue and yellow and the Coal Tit more buff and black with white spotted wings. The easiest way I remember which bird is the Coal Tit is to look at the back of its head. It has a large black cap with a white streak down the neck which reminds me of a miner’s lamp.
They are fast moving bird. Landing on a branch for a second or two, going to feeder and then flying off with their prize. The trick is to see which branch they favour when they come in, train your camera there – and hope!
In some parts of the country people rarely see this bird. However, over the years there is a growing population of them locally so they we see them regularly. When the weather is bad there is usually at least one to be found on a feeder around the garden. Not my best pictures but, as I say I set myself a challenge and the weather was certainly that!