One of the little gaggle of Long Tailed Tits which are hefted to our paddock and yard. Two or three have been coming daily to the feeders though sometimes there are about 7 of them doing a fly past. This is just one of them, who looked either desperately tired or on his last legs following the blizzards we didn't get and the Siberian wind, which we did. (I think this was taken on Monday). I was very worried about this chap, as he sat on the branch for about 5 minutes - which is why I was able to take this photo of him. I seriously thought this was the last I would see of him, as he seemed he might be at death's door. I thought he might be one of the low status LLT's, who didn't get poll position in the middle of the cwtch of birds at night (they sleep in rows, close together, on a branch) - this was an Outside Bird by the look of things, so got most chilled, poor wee scrap.
Anyway, on Tuesday I only saw one until the afternoon, and then there were two again, full of energy, so I am hoping that this wee one survived. There were three out there yesterday so it looks hopeful.
I don't think I have ever seen one as fluffed up as that, poor little chap.
ReplyDeleteIt was bitterly cold, and he looked chilled to the marrow, poor little scrap. I know down is good insultation, but by golly, he needed every feather last week!
ReplyDeleteBet you are getting through loads of bird food at the moment. I have a jackdaw who can't fly but hops around the garden and churchyard with great alacrity I leave food in several places for him but we have loads of wood pigeons as well..
ReplyDeleteYou're not kidding Thelma. I will gradually ease it off once spring starts to show her face properly. A friend in Orkney was feeding a one-legged seagull for some time until one of the winter storms finished it off.
ReplyDeleteDo hope it survived - the cold snowy spell was not good for birds. We certainly had a lot more visits to our feeders.
ReplyDeleteWell, we have 3 where I had two most days, so it looks like he/she must have done. A friend found a dead Chaffinch and a dead Brambling by her feeders during the snow though (they had really deep drifts where she lives).
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