Thought I had an unusually marked Great Tit around the feeder yesterday, much more speckled on the cheek and breast than normal. Here it is on the feeder.
It moved up into the bush above the feeder, where I zoomed in to get these shots.
I know it was wet yesterday, but I've never seen such a bedraggled, poor looking thing. The other tits were all fine. At least it's had a few seeds to eat, as I saw it return 2 or 3 times, so I hope it's nothing serious and that it's dried out and feeling better today.
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Nige Flickr
Poor little thing Nigel, does look a bit wet and bedraggled, especially around the White parts on the face.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Do you think it could have just come from a bathe Nigel & not preened itself immediately because of the rain? My Spadgers still bathing in waterfall, up to six at a time, despite the awful weather!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Does look rather soggy and in need of a good preen but hopefully with a drier spell this GT will be fine; it did look like very heavy rain so the feathers can often look worse than they actually are. You should see a Jay when it comes out of the water after bathing or getting soaked with rain !! talk about bad hair day lol will have to try find you a photo of it.
post edit: here's a soggy Jay !
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Regards, Hazel
I don't often see birds that wet-looking. They are quite happy to come and take the food, but completely ignore the water I leave out. I don't suppose it was in too much trouble though. It certainly had a good appetite and didn't seem in difficulty flying to and from the feeder. It just looked so bedraggled you couldn't help feeling a little sorry for it.
Thanks for all your comments and photos though.