Though Cosmeston Lakes, my local country park, is visited by a wide variety of passing avian rarities, arguably its least common resident bird is the Marsh tit, which makes its home from around October to March within the boundaries of Cogan Wood.

The current population seems to be three, though that’s just an educated guess. When walking through the wood recently, two Marsh tits were coming to food at one well known feeding location, and one bird appeared at a second location at the other end of the woods.

No one knows where the birds go during the breeding season though, as they are small, they’re unlikely to venture far afield. Indeed, it may be that they simply move to some of the outlying areas of the park that are, fortunately, inaccessible to humans so they can breed in peace.

Whatever the reality may be, I’m just glad they are able to sustain their tiny population so that folks like me, who truly appreciate how precious they are, can continue to enjoy watching them.