The willow or Coaltit

[Bevb]

I was lucky to stumble upon this nest in a hole in the tree which was very low down and quite vunerable, on one visit i came upon a squirrel checking out the hole, but i fortunately scared it off and to find the family still safe was very reassuring.

Im not sure if its a Willow or Coal Tit nest, the ID in the books between these and the Marsh Tit are all very similar with little or no differences, but i think it could be the Willow Tit as it has no white flect marking on the wings as do the Coaltit.

I was glad to have the pleasure of seeing one of the babies peep out of the hole on the morning of my departure, it was a great finale' as i could hear a lot of noise from thm in the nest but to put a face to it seemed a good ending.

[SmartWombat]

Lovely images again.

Coal tit has distinctive white nape to the neck.
A photo of the back of its head would be definitive identification.

The big problem is if it doesn't have a white nape, then the difference between Willow tit and March tit is almost nothing. My book says you can tell by the song, but not by appearance.

[Bevb]

Thanks PAul for the info and i have attached 2 images of the back view, hope this may help.

[Copy_Kot]

Wow Bev, what a great find captured very well. The second image in your first post is priceless.

[Jaedon]

Wow Bev, what a great find captured very well. The second image in your first post is priceless.

I have to agree with CK on that pic. It's the "where's my mom" face lol.

[Bevb]

Thanks Copy & Jaedon, yes it was luck more than judgment on finding this, although the noise the babies made drew you to it, but it was on the edge of a wood and hopefully it was left alone, and by now the babies would have flown.

[AmberC]

Awww! How cute Great shots!

Amber

[Bevb]

Thanks Amber.

[SmartWombat]

Ah, not a white nape then.
The Coal tit has an elongated vertical white patch in the centre of the nape of the neck, with the black cap extending down the back of the neck each side of it.
My book says both the Williw and Marsh tit nest at this time of year, both in holes in tree trunks, and both in mossy nests.

[Bevb]

Yes it looks like the coaltit has been eliminated, the only difference my book says there is between the willow and marsh tit is, that the marsh tit has a slightly thicker set neck, where my bird looks pretty normal in that region.

[paulnj]

Got me on the ID, but that a great find and nice images.