Coal Tit

Above: Coal Tit
Below: Great Tit

The coal tit is a small, common, woodland and garden bird. Superficially it resembles the great tit (shown below left for comparison) but not so colourful. Quite a bit smaller than a great tit, it lacks the vivid yellow underside. The coal tit has a greyish back and tail and a pale breast and flanks with a hint of a pinkish/buff wash. Like the great tit it has a black head with prominent white cheeks. Unlike the great tit it also has a white stripe on the back of the head from the nape of the neck up. The legs and beak are black. The beak is smaller than other common tits and so you are also more likely to find coal tits in conifer forest than you would great tits or blue tits.

They feed on insects and seeds and are regular visitors to the garden. In winter they often join with other tits (mainly great tits and blue tits) and pass through woodland and gardens in search of seeds and other food.

Despite the fact that there are lots of coal tits and they are usually easy to see, they are not the easiest of birds to photograph. This is because they are highly active birds and seldom remain in the same place for more than a few seconds. For this reason the best opportunity to photograph them is by bird feeders (Although I don't usually photograph birds on feeders as I prefer a more 'natural' setting). At feeders they often perch nearby waiting for the larger birds to leave before flying in to grab what they can. This gives you an opportunity to get your desired photographs.

So where is there such a place with coal tits, feeders and somewhere to remain concealed (yet close enough) to take your pictures? Well if you have these birds in your garden, and many of you will have, you can create your own. If not, there are a number of possible places in the North West. However, without doubt the most reliable place, where you'll get the best poses, is the Boyd Observatory at Rostherne. Coal tits feeding from the table here, will at some point during your visit, perch nearby for photographs. I guarantee it. In addition as it is south facing (almost) the light is almost always pretty good.