Great Tit Parus major
The largest tit in the UK, well outside of Westminster and Holyrood anyway. Has been called black cap (not to be confused with the blackcap!), black-capped lolly or Black-headed Bob. Ox eye, Big ox eye, Saw sharpener and Sharp saw also given, the latter two for its call. Pridden pral and Heckymal come from the south-west, although I have no idea why those names were given. In Suffolk it was called Joe Ben, I misread that originally! Would have been fun.
The Spanish called them Cid or Cid pazararo, meaning Lord and Lord's sparrow respectively as well as Guerrero meaning 'warrior' or 'brawler'. The latter because they are always quarrelling with other birds as well as amongst themselves. Hey, we're right back at Westminster again.
Apparently, it's saw-like call also foretold rain. I imagine this is more accurate in Ireland and Wales.
The Spanish called them Cid or Cid pazararo, meaning Lord and Lord's sparrow respectively as well as Guerrero meaning 'warrior' or 'brawler'. The latter because they are always quarrelling with other birds as well as amongst themselves. Hey, we're right back at Westminster again.
Apparently, it's saw-like call also foretold rain. I imagine this is more accurate in Ireland and Wales.
in the green
well, I like this one simply because this GT is sitting in deep leaf shadow and this give a nice mellow green light.
I mean I did thank him, even tho' I suspect he didn't listen.
I mean I did thank him, even tho' I suspect he didn't listen.
street-fighter
those Spaniards had it right - these can be feisty aggressive little buggers. I mean this is a look you don't argue with right.
I crept quietly on, trying not to make eye contact.
I crept quietly on, trying not to make eye contact.
what's goin' on down there
just a nice unusual angle
problem with this is that it has to be a vertical or portrait picture - and ere - well I haven't found a way to display these properly on this site. When I do, I'll change it. in the meantime, the image will open in a browser window to let you find your own way.
problem with this is that it has to be a vertical or portrait picture - and ere - well I haven't found a way to display these properly on this site. When I do, I'll change it. in the meantime, the image will open in a browser window to let you find your own way.
attentive
I put this one in just because I think it shows well the alert and attentive nature I always associate with these little birds
it also shows an issue that confronts any bird photography - that is they infrequently clean their teeth! I really do have hundreds of what I consider to be nice pictures except the bird has something smeared all over its face - berry feeders are especially bad at this. Simply put they can be the most slovenly of models any photographer has had to try and make look nice
it also shows an issue that confronts any bird photography - that is they infrequently clean their teeth! I really do have hundreds of what I consider to be nice pictures except the bird has something smeared all over its face - berry feeders are especially bad at this. Simply put they can be the most slovenly of models any photographer has had to try and make look nice
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
Some of this species old names derive from its colour inc: Blue cap, Blue bonnet`, Blue spick and Blue ox-eye. The strong pecks it can deliver gave us Hickmall, Hackmal, Heckymal and Hagmall, the tendency of the bird to give these sharp pecks to anyone trying to interfere with her nest gave Billy-biter.
Yawp, Tinnock Pedantically or Pridden pral (tree-babbler in Cornish) together with Pinchem, and Tidife derive from the repeated chirp' of its call. Has been called Nun, for the white round its head. My personal favourite old name comes from Norfolk where it was called Pickcheese, about time my old county won this coveted award.
Another bird with weather predictive skill as in 'the titmouse foretells cold when crying". Almost certainly as accurate as the Met Office and costs us all a lot less in tax.
Yawp, Tinnock Pedantically or Pridden pral (tree-babbler in Cornish) together with Pinchem, and Tidife derive from the repeated chirp' of its call. Has been called Nun, for the white round its head. My personal favourite old name comes from Norfolk where it was called Pickcheese, about time my old county won this coveted award.
Another bird with weather predictive skill as in 'the titmouse foretells cold when crying". Almost certainly as accurate as the Met Office and costs us all a lot less in tax.
light
it's a about the light, right
well, this little chap was hopping about in the shadows for a long long time, when he did partly get in the bright sun it was usually only his butt that got nicely lit up !
so, if there are four top tips in wildlife photography, they have to be patience, patience, patience and be ready
eventually he stood where I hoped he would, well for mebbe 30 seconds, low-angle spring sunshine and deep contrasting shadow makes this, in my mind, a 'pretty picture' of this sweet little bird
well, this little chap was hopping about in the shadows for a long long time, when he did partly get in the bright sun it was usually only his butt that got nicely lit up !
so, if there are four top tips in wildlife photography, they have to be patience, patience, patience and be ready
eventually he stood where I hoped he would, well for mebbe 30 seconds, low-angle spring sunshine and deep contrasting shadow makes this, in my mind, a 'pretty picture' of this sweet little bird
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
Let's start with the modern 'birder' name for this charming bird, 'Lollipop', with that long tail and pink other end it is a fitting epithet.
Of all the numerous archaic names we have for this beautiful and cheerful little bird 'Bum Towel' is perhaps the least complimentary. I mean seriously guys what are you thinking? Apparently, this was used because of its colour, as was Bell ringer and Millithrum or Miller's Thumb.
From the penduline shape of its nest it was also called Bottle tit, Jack in a bottle, Pudding bag, Poke pudding and Poke bag. Lastly, we have Long-tailed mag, Long-pod, long-tailed mufflin, Mumruffin, Ragamuffin, Fuffit. The last four because of the tufted feathers around the neck resemble a muffler.
Of all the numerous archaic names we have for this beautiful and cheerful little bird 'Bum Towel' is perhaps the least complimentary. I mean seriously guys what are you thinking? Apparently, this was used because of its colour, as was Bell ringer and Millithrum or Miller's Thumb.
From the penduline shape of its nest it was also called Bottle tit, Jack in a bottle, Pudding bag, Poke pudding and Poke bag. Lastly, we have Long-tailed mag, Long-pod, long-tailed mufflin, Mumruffin, Ragamuffin, Fuffit. The last four because of the tufted feathers around the neck resemble a muffler.
at last !
always traveling in small 'packs' you know when they're near, a musical pinging gives them away, then there they are, a highly active constantly shifting group, each one still for only a moment as they move on
so yes, getting one sitting still on its own, in the light, is not that common, so be ready when one does oblige, and what a beautiful colourful fluffy little chap he/she is. I always want to pick one up and cuddle it, then glue it to a branch while I get the camera !
I have a few more of this miraculous moment and might pop some more up later - it will be a while before it happens again !
'bum-towel' indeed!
so yes, getting one sitting still on its own, in the light, is not that common, so be ready when one does oblige, and what a beautiful colourful fluffy little chap he/she is. I always want to pick one up and cuddle it, then glue it to a branch while I get the camera !
I have a few more of this miraculous moment and might pop some more up later - it will be a while before it happens again !
'bum-towel' indeed!
Coal Tit Periparus ater
Most colloquial names for this little chap refer to its black head and neck as in: Coal, Coaly hood, Coaly hooden, Black cap (again not to be confused with the Blackcap) and Black ox-eye. According to Swainson, in the Rhiengau any ensnarer of a Cole tit was severely fined and cites this from Grimm:
"Wer eine kolmeise fienge mit limen oder mit slagegarn, der sal unserme herrn geben eine falbe henne mit Sieben hunkeln."
Now ol' google translates this as:
"Whoever catches a colt with lime or with slagegarn, the salute of our lord give a dun hen with seven hunch."
Enigmatic stuff indeed! We may be able to learn a lot from that.
"Wer eine kolmeise fienge mit limen oder mit slagegarn, der sal unserme herrn geben eine falbe henne mit Sieben hunkeln."
Now ol' google translates this as:
"Whoever catches a colt with lime or with slagegarn, the salute of our lord give a dun hen with seven hunch."
Enigmatic stuff indeed! We may be able to learn a lot from that.
a placeholder
I must say this isn't a great or satisfying image of a coal tit at all - indeed I think it's only the background modern art that gives it any hope. And besides, it is obvious a Coal tit can't really do a menacing face very well. I will replace as soon as.
another placeholder
Another pretty disatisfying image of a coal tit (see what I did there with the 'pretty' bit) again it will replaced as soon as.
I think the real question here is why I seem unable to muster any pretty pictures of this sweet little bird? There are enough Coal tits up here, and I even have them nesting in the garden, have I become blasé because of their ubiquity? This needs to stop, NOW, once I've finished this pot of coffee.
I think the real question here is why I seem unable to muster any pretty pictures of this sweet little bird? There are enough Coal tits up here, and I even have them nesting in the garden, have I become blasé because of their ubiquity? This needs to stop, NOW, once I've finished this pot of coffee.
weeeeeeeeee
I just put this in here because it looks to me as if he's just stepped forward off the branch without planning it too much.
Now I don't think I'm giving any secrets away if I admit this is very different to the pose I would have if I'd just done the same thing, I guess knowing you can fly just makes you a tad blasé.
Now I don't think I'm giving any secrets away if I admit this is very different to the pose I would have if I'd just done the same thing, I guess knowing you can fly just makes you a tad blasé.