What's Buzzing or Flying near you today.... 2014

No pics this time but I can report a first in my garden. The weather was so good today that I sat, with a mug of tea, by the metal bird feeder that has the Peanut feeder and the Fat Ball feeder hanging from it. While I was sitting there a Long Tailed Tit turned up and hung onto the Peanut feeder followed by a variety of Tit that, for me was one I've haven't seen before. It was a Penduline Tit and as I was sitting about 4' away from the Feeders I had a good view. It fed off the Peanut feeder for a good few minutes and although I had my camera on my lap I knew if I moved it would fly off. So I sat there with my tea going cold but really pleased to see a new variety, for my garden, so close up.

 

Last thing I was thinking of, Jenny, and you know I'm too sensitive and shy to even mention it.

 

A bird book??? And my apologies it's actually called a Penduline Tit......too much drinking tea or something!!

 

Me too, Ma!!

 

I'm quite pleased that I had a really good close, long, look at it, although I was a bit peeved at not being able to take a pic of it. Having said that, and knowing it's a visitor to the Peanut Feeder I'll set up a long lens with a tripod of the camera set on remote to see if it returns.

 

I read several Bird Books, Strongy, after reading the description about their preference for Reeds and that made me think twice, but then I have a lot of Meres, lakes and rivers around my area. If I hadn't been so close to it, 4' or less, for several minutes with it right in front of me and having such a good, long look at it I would not have mentioned it. I know all the Tits that I get in the garden, Great, Coal, Blue, and Long Tailed, but this was so different that it caught my eye straight away.
My real regret, as I have said to Jenny, is that I wish I hadn't been sitting so close to the Feeder or had had the courage to try to take a shot but I knew it would have flown off as soon as I moved. Also I had no idea of the time that it was such a rare visitor, to me it was just a bird I hadn't seen before, but I had the Bird books out within less than a minute to try to identify it. All the books images are spot on for the bird I saw and I can only hope that it will return again. I'm not going to Birmingham tomorrow but have a lunch meeting with my Bosses in Chester so I'm going to set up the camera on a tripod on remote to see if I can catch it digitally.

 

That pic reinforces what I saw......that's exactly as in the books and exactly what I had the privilege of watching so close up for several minutes. Also I'm right next door to the Welsh Border.........not that the Penduline Tit will be bothered about Borders, it'll be looking for food and a place to shelter around water and there's plenty both around in my area. Thank you for that post and link, Spruce......top notch!!!