Mixed Flock in Garden : 7th August 2011

Mixed Flock in Garden : 7th August 2011

A very unusual sight in the garden. I looked casually at the back garden feeders as I must do a million times a day and was somewhat amazed to see half a dozen Long-tailed Tits all over the feeders. On top of this there were nine Blue Tits and four Great Tits. All of these birds were present at the same time buzzing all around the feeders. There was also further activity in the rose bushes at the bottom of the garden but there was so much going on that it was hard to concentrate on what was happening down there. Amazingly I then saw bobbing along the back gate a very yellow warbler which I took to be a Willow Warbler ! I was quite astonished and although we have been seeing Long-tailed Tits in the garden recently we haven’t ever seen anything like this before. It was clear that all these birds were this year juveniles who were presumably making up a single foraging flock. Sadly they didn’t stay long but it was quite a sight while it was happening !