Pretty in Pink

Long-tailed Tits have been one of my favourite birds for a long, long time. Almost undescribably pretty, these pink, black and white birds usually grace the feeders in our garden with their presence only once a week or so (not surprising as their diet is predominantly invertebrates) – at least until this winter that was the case anyway. Now they’re here every day, presumably because of the sharp frosts we’ve had which will be limiting their natural diet. Each visit doesn’t last very long, just 2-3 minutes. Peanuts and fat balls are their food of choice at the feeding station, and their already endearing appearance is multiplied as they all hang on the feeder at the same time; up to 8 birds on the peanut cage and another 7 or 8 on the fat feeder, a heaving mass frantically pecking at the food. Then, they’re off, all calling as they depart, and the feeding station is left to the Blue, Great and Coal Tits.