Abington Naturewatch: The tapping Long-tailed Tit

Monday 11 March 2024

The tapping Long-tailed Tit

4th March 2024 - for the last few days, a Long-tailed Tit could be heard tapping the windows at Andy M's house. Typically, the bird perches on the window ledge before continually tap at its reflection, sometimes getting quite agitated and flying up and down the window tapping as it goes. Eventually tiring of this, it moves away, only to see its reflection in the next window and starts the whole performance again.

Quite common at this time of year, this (usually male) behaviour comes from fact that the male birds are starting to attract a mate and set up a territory. Seeing the reflection as an intruding male, the bird instinctively reacts by trying to scare it away, becoming increasingly frustrated as 'the other male' just doesn't seem to get the message!

On the upside, this may mean this male has established a nesting territory in his garden, and it does give really close views of this rather cute little bird.

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The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)