Tuesday Tweet

Launched in the summer of 2024 Reddings Retreat Tuesday's Tweets are posted on our Instagram & Facebook pages. Each Tuesday Tweet features a bird spotted at Reddings Retreat. The aim of the Tuesday Tweet is to provide information about the different species of birds spotted and photographed at Reddings Retreat, Tintern.

If you are interested in bird watching this free ebook is a great way to get started:The Bird Watcher's Toolkit

Tuesday Tweet 2025

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Widespread black-and-white woodpecker with a range that covers much of Eurasia. Note the big white shoulder patches, extensive red on vent, and black crown. Male has a red nape patch; juvenile (both sexes) has a red cap. Size and bold black-and-white plumage distinctive in most of range. Inhabits almost all types of forest and woodland, parkland, gardens, even farmland with hedges and scattered larger trees. Feeds mainly on trunks and larger branches; also visits feeders. Gives a sharp “kik!”, often in series. Drums frequently, often giving a short, fast series that trails off quickly.

Great Tit

Conspicuous inhabitant of woods, forests, parks, gardens, and hedges in farmland. Often visits bird feeders and uses nest boxes. Plumage is distinctive, with white cheeks surrounded by a black cap and bib. Male has a broader black stripe down belly than the female, and the juvenile (seen in summer–early autumn) has yellowish wash to face and drabber plumage overall. Underparts are bright yellow throughout much of range, but “Turkestan Tit” of Central Asia has a white belly. Appreciably larger and more boldly patterned than Eurasian Blue Tit, which often occurs alongside it. Listen for its distinctive high-pitched up-and-down song: “tsee-dee-tsee-dee-tsee-dee” and chattering scolds.

Coal Tit

Small, active tit. Combination of large black bib, white wingbars, and broad white stripe on nape distinctive. Dazzling geographic variation: Himalayan and Chinese birds have a small, spiffy crest; north African birds have stained yellow cheeks; European and Siberian birds dullest overall, crestless and with buffy flanks. Inhabits coniferous and mixed woodland, forest, parks, and gardens; visits bird feeders. Associated with foothills and montane areas throughout much of its eastern range. Often joins mixed-species flocks in autumn and winter, moving quickly through the foliage and giving high-pitched calls. Up-and-down song varies across range. Compare with slightly larger and chunkier Marsh Tit and Willow Tit, which have bigger white cheek patches, drabber overall plumage, and different voices.

Siskin

Small yellowish finch with prominent wingbars. Male is attractive and distinctive, with a yellow face and breast offset by a black cap and small chin patch. Female streaky overall, often with yellowish tones; note especially the yellow wing and tail flashes of both sexes. Inhabits mixed and coniferous woodland and forest; also found in parks and gardens, and visits seed feeders. Often in flocks, mainly in the autumn and winter, gathering at good food sources. Listen for twittering, buzzing vocalizations, including nasal, rising “tuohweee” and dry chittering.

Grey Heron

Generally quite common and conspicuous in wetland habitats from marshes and tidal flats to small ponds, ditches, and wet fields; nests colonially in tall trees. Mainly seen as singles or in small groups, standing quietly in or at the edge of water, less often hunting in fields. Plumage mostly gray overall, with paler neck; adult has white crown, black eyebrows, and black shoulder patch. Like other herons and egrets, flies with neck pulled in to form a bulge.

Water Rail

Shy but generally not uncommon, this reclusive marsh bird is more often heard than seen; listen for its varied piglike squeals and grunts coming from dense vegetation. Favors fresh marshes and ponds with taller vegetation, especially reeds and rushes; in winter and freezing weather, sometimes in tidal marshes. Most often seen at muddy edges, walking stealthily; can move very quickly. About half the size of a moorhen. Note long, mostly red bill (unlike short, chickenlike bill of crakes), and barred flanks. Replaced in much of Asia by the Brown-cheeked Rail, with which it has minor overlap; very similar, but lacks the strong eye stripe of that species, has a darker throat and grayer breast and belly.

Partridge

Distinctive gamebird of farmland, grassy fields, and open heathland. Seen mainly as pairs and small groups, often along the edges of fields. Plumage is ornate and handsome, with a red bill, white throat, black streaked necklace, boldly barred flanks, and buffy belly. Other similar species (such as Chukar) do not overlap in native range, but can escape from collections or be introduced for hunting; all lack the diagnostic black-streaked necklace of Red-legged. Song is a dry, rasping “wa-cha-cha-wa-cha-cha” or “wi’ch-ch’ch.”

Peregrine Falcon

Sleek, fast-flying large falcon. Always look for a grayish back in adults, long wings that almost reach the tail tip, and powerful but slender build. Dark mark below each eye varies in shape and size. Juveniles are more heavily patterned below than adults, and can be quite brownish above. Patterning varies considerably across a wide global range, with back color ranging from pale gray in Central Asian “Red-capped” to slaty-blue across much of northern Eurasia North America, to almost black in Asian “Shaheen.” Chases prey down at high speeds with continuous powerful wingbeats. Becoming increasingly common in parts of range, especially in cities, where they can nest on tall buildings and feed on pigeons. Adaptable, and can be seen in a wide range of habitats; often encountered in areas with steep cliffs, as well as around coastal mudflats and open areas with shorebirds.

Source: Merlin Bird Identification App