How to Identify a Coal Tit and Tell it from Other Tits
I see Blue Tits almost everywhere, in fact around me they are possibly more common than Sparrows nowadays. Great Tits less so but still regularly in woodlands.
Less common still, at least in my experience, is the Coal Tit and I recently got a picture of what I think is one
I took this during my last trip to the Brocklesby Park Estate Walk at Great Limber and as usual with my photographs it was quite a way off and I wasn’t sure what it was when I took the picture I’m afraid.
Coal Tit
I wondered first, on consulting the bird bird books, whether it might not have been a Marsh Tit or a Willow Tit but the white barring on the wings put pay to that theory.
The white areas around the head are also distinguishing features in my illustrations though it has to be said the differences are less obvious in the bird I photographed.
The wings of the Coal Tit should be a sort of greyish colour as well whereas the Willow and Marsh are brown but again the above example and the very bright light that day, plus being high up in a coniferous tree, make the distinction less obvious.
Hopefully I’ve got it right ?
They are very ‘flighty’ birds, flitting about constantly which can make getting a decent shot a matter of some frustration. Thankfully this one seemed to be taking a well-earned rest on a very hot day and sat still for an extended period (for extended period read about 5-10 seconds) allowing me a few shots.
Parus ater is a small bird, about 4.5 inches, and likes coniferous and mixed woods so this was classic territory to see one.
I’m always interested in hearing more from anybody, opinions, information - anything in fact
Below you’ll see some information about the picture which has been requested by some of our valued regulars - technical photographic points, criticisms and suggestions also welcomed.
All the best
Rod
Picture information:
F/6.3 ~ 1/800 ~ ISO400 ~ Lens Length 500mm (effective 800mm) ~ Handheld ~ IS switched off !
Amiguru said,
May 26, 2010 @ 4:37 pm
Rod,
100% correct again! That’s a pretty good effort with a big lens and image stabilisation switched off. I presume you use tree trunks as pseudo tripods; I sometimes carry a lightweight monopod in the field, it’s amazing the difference that vertical stability effects.
I think I’ll start awarding you ‘bird points’ according to the overall results
Disregarding the fact that this reduced-size image probably doesn’t do it justice, (after all, they will all be judged by the same yardstick), I’ll give this one 8 points.
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
May 26, 2010 @ 6:10 pm
Neville,
thanks for that, it’s a relief !
No support used, purely hand held, camera and lens is big too - runs to 20 inches !
I’ve a great Manfrotto monopod which I like a lot. These experiments are based on a theory I have that 1/150 to 1/200 should be enough to freeze most wildlife movement so therefore 1/800 may well freeze any movement I make - seems quite effective - I’ll keep trying various things and see what happens.
I like the points system Neville, especially if it’s out of 10 !
Cheers
Rod
[edit] Just weighed the camera and lens Neville - comes in fractionally below half a stone !
History Hunter said,
May 26, 2010 @ 11:02 pm
No comment!
Rod said,
May 27, 2010 @ 6:28 am
HH
No comment!
Hear Hear !
Best
Rod