Penduline Tits at Darts Farm

A trip to Darts Farm at Topsham on February 26th with Sue from work to look at the binoculars at the RSPB shop and I had my fingers crossed that we would see the penduline tits that have been showing again here for the last few days...... and we were in luck!

Arriving at the hide and there was no sign of them although a birder present said they had been seen earlier that morning. However after a few minutes an arriving birder found 2 birds feeding on the bull rush heads close to the path near the hide. They were surprisingly difficult to see despite being only a few metres away, blending in well against the dark heads and pale stems. It was bright and breezey too and the heads were swaying back and forth with the birds often on the opposite side of the heads and out of sight. The bull rush seeds were blowing away in the wind as they ripped the heads apart to get at insects but the birds were so easy to overlook.

 Two Penduline Tits, Darts Farm

 Penduline Tit (reminding me of a male red backed shrike)

 Penduline Tit

Penduline Tit

Penduline Tit

I have been very fortunate to see them on only my second attempt as they have been quite mobile and difficult to pin down but when they have been seen they have given some great views, today being no exception. But where is the 3rd bird, they have usually been seen as a trio, maybe it was overlooked in the reed bed? Or are there 5 birds as some have suggested with these 2 being the other birds? Whatever, it was nice to see them and to see them so well (my only other sighting has been of a single, long staying, overwintering bird at Clennon Valley in Paignton a few years ago).

Also seen was a flyover black swan, around 20 black tailed godwits, 2 little egrets, teal, wigeon, curlew and a sparrowhawk and a bonus was having a Chunk pasty for lunch in the cafe.