The Bearded Reedling

Deep in the reed-bed of a nature reserve in north Lancashire is an amazing bird that seldom shows itself – it is the Bearded Tit or Reedling. It is one of the few species of bird that change their diet from insects in summers to the seeds of reeds in winter. To do this every autumn they ingest grit which enables their stomach to process the seeds. When they start to ingest the grit is the best time to obtain photos as they fly from the reeds by the dozen onto paths and trays put out specially for them.