![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtViaP-9F9n-uDbREDae8UIHgKIKCRskcyv0lBLDi4ZOKleiRBmw9FQ-3FyiP_cmzACdfa0TH5Kg1qO8GuJ-TB0P4sIvqHedsCCjYM2r9PvoAIGI7hCWJkv16QFUheI9ry-aY5/s400/longtailedtit_6641.jpg)
Baby bird season is hard work. After the experience of seeing Jackdaw chicks become supper for young Carrion Crows last week, today I stumbled across a tiny Long-tailed Tit fledgling. I'm not entirely sure what the official definition of 'fledgling' is, but this one couldn't really fly very well. It was more of a flutterer at an altitude of two inches.
It was in a vulnerable position in the middle of a busy path, so I watched for 10 minutes to see what happened before picking it up - it seemed quite happy to perch on my finger - and attempting to put it somewhere safer.
At first I couldn't hear any adults calling nearby, but then two sat in a nearby tree before flying off. The chick was calling but there didn't seem to be any other Long-tailed Tits around. In the end it fluttered into some nettles and I had to walk away... Now I'm trying not to think about its fate.
It was in a vulnerable position in the middle of a busy path, so I watched for 10 minutes to see what happened before picking it up - it seemed quite happy to perch on my finger - and attempting to put it somewhere safer.
At first I couldn't hear any adults calling nearby, but then two sat in a nearby tree before flying off. The chick was calling but there didn't seem to be any other Long-tailed Tits around. In the end it fluttered into some nettles and I had to walk away... Now I'm trying not to think about its fate.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkO34-F_F8fySC8IvAhWUHcOsRAKBnC-HxaYahPmtiaEAHhJj93cbM6-qdYIx1ZcsY_DaK28ADfdt5ZEDREyF0ICnfWD8dkSUppcAHvyTIHab182teucpumWeIPw5FtzmE6Rn1/s400/largereds_6647.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_GCUY60KZdZ31TXpeI-BgrkPE67c4II_FAfhBd9GlLRIxmw0Wlm_1kO2ZvMhHmLfMUzpJzjP3xPvkHK_jQfscDbSpHNrdPlfpaLezIewSn8zlpzE5LPdmyLw7lOip1XclqCK/s400/iris_6627.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufBDrGgnmIGToh84lVfntyaM8tu9JXGQ0V82y9gGhy9BJ9aOnD92xOqI2RpJkGbMviopzYL8Yl56wu7uUJLhVH7Avd9Bq9roMrjx7KRuwm1tFBrDu6hNCEDsOiqNcWRnCJyN7/s400/poppy_6628.jpg)
photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Beautiful photos. Years ago when I was still living in England, I once saw a long tailed tit. Beautiful bird -- soft and fluffy. I love that gorgeous red poppy photo.
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