A Duo of Long-Tailed Tits

I was sitting, watching the day go by and outside my kitchen window I noticed  a pair of Long- Tailed  Tits.(Aegithalidae) making/improving their nest. This is unusual for this time of year as you usually see them at work in early March. They were piecing together lichen, cobwebs and animal hair in the unmistakable oval and domed shaped nest with the entrance hole near the top. This nest was about 6ft from the ground in a near by tree. They seemed to be working from the inside of the net and to finish, camouflaging the outside.They start to lay their eggs mid to late may. In the breeding season they are found near woodlands and clearing with hedgerows. They rarely visit suburban gardens. They are present all year round and in winter return to wooded areas and huddle in groups to stay warm. 

The long-tailed tit is easily recognisable with its distinctive colouring, a tail that is bigger than its body, and undulating flight. Gregarious and noisy residents, long-tailed tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds. Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows, but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes. Found across the UK except for the far north and west of Scotland. They can be seen in woodland, farmland hedgerows, scrubland, parkland and gardens.

I hope to get photographic evidence of these sweet little birds soon. 

Abbi

Location : Ashridge
Date: 11th April 2011
Time: 7pm-8pm
Weather: Light evening clouds, some spells of rain but overall quite pleasant 
Map Reference: SP975135