Bearded Tit Gritting in Full Swing

Just five days after the first bird was seen visiting the grit trays numbers have really built up . To date we have identified from their colour rings 23 different birds visiting the trays. Of these 16 are adult birds and seven birds that fledged this year.

This is quite usual for the start of the season with adults, which know the position of the trays from previous years, visiting early in the season. One bird, a three year female has been recorded visiting on all five days.

When they visit the tray, birds will remain there sorting through the grit for up to 5- 7 minutes. When numbers visit the tray at once there can be quite a bit of aggression with males chasing each other off the trays.

I have been studying the Leighton Moss population since they colonised in 1973. We try to work out the breeding population from ringing studies and the colour ring sightings on the grit trays are vital. So far this year we have identified 10 males and 14 females.

I have been asked what grit we put out. It is a mixture of sharp builders sand and pheasant grit.

Many thanks to Keith Kellet for his patience in recording many of the grit tray sightings.
John