Blagdon Lake Birds

Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

(Very rare resident)

1. Two, not aged or sexed, 21st Nov. 1965 (A.H. Davis, D.A. Cottle, K.E. Vinicombe, S.E. Caola, et al.).
2. Five, not aged or sexed, 14th Oct. 1979 (L.J. Wreford). See note 1.
3. One heard, not aged or sexed, 21st Oct. 2016 (A.H. Davis).
4. c.8-10, not aged or sexed, 13th Dec. 2016 (N.R. Milbourne).
5. One heard, not aged or sexed, 22nd Oct. 2019 (R.J. Higgins).
6. One heard, not aged or sexed, 10th Nov. 2019 (M. Hynam, N.R. Milbourne).

Note 1. I took this record directly from BOC News for Oct. 1979, and I believe the date given here to be correct. There was a paper published in the 1991 ABR that suggests there were five Bearded Tits seen at Blagdon on the 14th Oct. 1980. Although I don't have a copy of ABR 1979, I do have a copy of ABR 1980 which does not mention the quoted record. Neither does BOC News for Oct. 1980.

Bibliography (sources of information):

1. BOC News, Oct. 1979.
2. Caola, S.E. Personal Diaries.
3. Davis, A.H. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 1991. Avon Ornithological Group.
4. Davis, H.H. (ed.). Somerset Birds, 1965. Somersetshire Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc.