Dishevelled Tit - identification help please

Thought this was a Blue Tit but once I looked at the shot I am not too sure, know it is a naf shot but would love to know if it is blue tit or not, never seen one with the sort of crest or is it just loosing feathers, funny time of year to be doing that I would have thought or perhaps it has been in a scrap. Think the stripe across the back is a shadow.

I think it's a blue tit. The only other tit that's similar is a great tit but I'd say it's a blue tit.

I think it's a Blue Tit too, poor guy looks like he has been in the wars. Maybe a cat?

Definitely a blue tit, just a very ropey looking one.

xx

Thanks folks, thought it may have been a crested tit till I found out they only appear in Scotland and def not Lincolnshire.

I have no idea what it is

Think it is a long eared blue tit Azz Mind you it could be one of those new crossbreeds, wonder what it would be called.

Yes it is a blue tit, recently there has been an illness affecting them, stopping them from swallowing food. The try to eat but they retain the food in their beak yet go on the fat side, they tend to fluff up, eventually leading to death.

This year hopefully the virus has gone, at least we havn't seen any signs so far, but (as Dawn will vouch for) we witnessed many suffering. We even sent a couple of specimens to the RSPB, who confirmed it and want a check on how many we saw with this ailment.

Jackie watch carefully to see if they actually swallow the food or retain in in the beak. If the latter The RSPB will be most interested and can be e-mailed on www.rspb.org.uk

Bazza

Pretty sure it was eating Bazza, but thanks for the info I will keep an eye open.

Surprising what one notices when taking shots of wildlife that you considered just things before. Took some shots of small tortoiseshells the other week and one of them was so tatty around the wings that I am surprised it could fly but fly it did.