Tits Paridae
I sense a pachyderm in the room here. It's simply the common name for this group. Most bird sites consider themselves too aloof to even allude to it, seemingly hoping it will all go away. But me? Well, you know me, I got a thick skin (geddit). So, once and for all, 'tits', in this instance, has no connection at all with err, well, you know, how do I put this, ladies' chests. The root is different.

The older English name for this group of birds was Titmice (titmouse singular) a compound name derived from 'tit' meaning small and 'Mâse a name for several small birds. The latter is akin to the French Mésange and the German Meise, and was therefore shared across much of Europe. In the UK the name Titmouse was used up to the 20th century. Indeed it still is across most of the English speaking world for similar looking birds, the name no doubt being taken there from England by early colonists. Now, as for why we lost the 'mouse' off the end leaving this shortened version I cannot seem to find out. And typing that query into google will no don't generate a lot of hits, just of no use.

Right now, we've all got that off our chests, we can look at a few of these active and attractive little birds.



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Great tit Parus major
The biggest 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! That could have been fun.

The Spanish names for them were Cid or Cid pazararo, meaning ‘Lord’ and ‘Lord's sparrow’ respectively, as well as Guerrero, meaning 'warrior' or 'brawler'. This latter because they are famous for always squabbling with other birds, as well as amongst themselves. And hey, just like that, we're right back at Westminster and Holyrood again. What a segue! Apparently, it's saw-like call also foretold rain. I imagine this is more accurate in Ireland and Wales.

Not to be confused with G&T, almost unique in being an alcoholic drink I cannot stand. I mean, I suppose I could force one down in extremis, if I had to.

in the green
I think I’ll start with this GT, he looks pretty enough for me, perched in a nice green light from dense leaf cover. And he’s not squabbling either. Although I do wish there wasn't a stick in front of him. See, never happy am I.

And yes, I did thank him for sitting there nicely for me, what do you take me for?
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Parus major  ♂  Strathnairn   30-07-24
   Canon R5 EF 500mm f4 1/1000th ISO800 -0.67 EV
"you lookin' at me mate"
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.
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Great Tit    Parus major  ♂  Strathnairn   15-03-24
   Canon R5 EF500mm f4 1/1000th ISO1600 -0.67 EV
downside-up
a pretty unusual view - and again I wangle 'pretty' in, although I didn't need too as I think the colours here are pretty enough on their own
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Parus major  ♂  Strathnairn   30-07-24
   Canon R5 EF500mm f4 1/1025th ISO800
peek-a-boo
it’s a nice day, but not much happening really, so I agree to play a game of hide-and-seek with a cheerful great tit. It was simply a white-wash, I didn’t have a chance.

I ask if he would mind me taking a picture of him in one of his favourite hiding places, and he gracefully agrees.
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Parus major  ♂  Strathnairn   30-07-24
   Canon R5 EF500mm f4 1/1025th ISO2500
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..

light
as I’m sure I will have prattled on about before, 'photography' means ‘drawing with light’. So, it's all about the light, right. Well, I spotted this little chap hopping about in the deep shadows of a tree. He was busy, and didn’t really have time for me. I knew how I wanted him, lit or partly-lit against that deep shadow, so I waited, and waited, for a long long time. When he did occasionly hop into the sun it was usually only his butt that got nicely lit up !

Well, if there are four top tips in wildlife photography, that I can self-importantly pass on, they have to be patience, patience, patience and be ready (i.e. don’t be so patient you fall asleep)

And eventually he stood how I hoped he would, well for mebbe 20 seconds at least. Low-angle spring sunshine and deep contrasting shadow makes this, in my mind at least, a 'pretty picture' of this sweet little bird
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Blue tit  
Cyanistes caeruleus ♂  Strathnairn   15-03-24
   Canon R5 RF100-500mm x1.4 (420mm) f8 1/1000th ISO320 -0.7 EV
light ii
The same chappie a short while later, and it's still about the light. This time he's all in shadow giving an even light and allowing the pale blue of his cap to show nicely. He's also watching me with a questioning look, mebbe asking if this is the pose I wanted, well it would do.
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Cyanistes caeruleus ♂  Strathnairn   15-03-24
   Canon R5 RF100-500mm x1.4 (420mm) f8 1/1000th ISO320 -0.7 EV
snowy delights
It's one of those delightful Highland winter days, snow on the ground and very cold. Sadly tho' no sun today. I watched this chap hopping about, he just looked so sweet and colourful set against the snowy background. So I asked if he minded me taking his picture, he said he was more than happy to pose for a minute. Snap. I thanked him and left him to his chores.
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Cyanistes caeruleus ♂  Strathnairn   07-01-26
   Canon R5ii EF500mm x1.4 (700mm) f5.56 1/1025th ISO4000 +0.9 EV
Long-tailed Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
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.

Now 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 were you thinking? Apparently, this was used because of its colour, which also gave us 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 latter four because of the tufted feathers around the neck resemble a muffler.

at last !
Always traveling in small active '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 and then they move on. So yes, photographically, they're absolute little buggers. Getting one sitting still on its own, in the light is, frankly, 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!
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Aegithalos caudatus  ♂  Strathnairn   26-01-24
   Canon R5 RF100-500mm x1.4 (420mm) f8 1/1000th ISO12800 0.33 EV
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, but I feel we can all learn a lot from it.

why? . . . . .!
. . . . . . this is what I ask myself when I came to upload some pretty pictures of this lovely little active tit. More precisely, why don’t I have any good pictures of them, especially, as I have a couple of pairs nesting in the garden. Well I don’t know is the only answer to that. so sadly this very poor picture will have to act as a placeholder until I get my shit, or my shot, together.
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Periparus ater   Strathnairn   13-03-24
   Canon R5 RF100-500 x1.4 (700mm) f9.93 1/2500th
see!
just to prove my point
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Periparus ater   Strathnairn   07-01-26
   Canon R5ii EF500 x1.4 (700mm) f5.6 1/5000th