The table below shows how the oldest birds so far captured on the reserve compare with the oldest known to the British Trust for Ornithology. Some were already at least a year old when first seen. The Marsh tits are remarkable; the first was specially added to the BTO records; the Wren is also worthy of note. The Chaffinch is now one of our most respected residents;it also commemorates Wilf Corris, the founder of the bird studies at Little Wittenham, as it was one of the last birds ringed by him.
These are not isolated examples; there are others nearly as old. It is interesting to note that the oldest Marsh tit was always caught in the same shelf of the same net - they usually have very small territories.
| Species | Age | First seen | Last seen | Oldest known to BTO |
| Marsh tit | 8 | 1990 | 1998 | 9 |
| 8 | 1997 | 2005 | 9 | |
| Longtailed tit | 6 | 1988 | 1994 | 8 |
| Bullfinch | 6 | 1996 | 2001 | 9 |
| Wren | 4 | 1986 | 1990 | 5 |
| Blue tit | 6 | 1997 | 2003 | 12 |
| Great tit | 7 | 1995 | 2002 | 13 |
| Dunnock | 6 | 1985 | 1991 | 9 |
| Chiffchaff | 3 | 1985 | 1988 | 6 |
| Blackcap | 3 | 1998 | 2002 | 7 |
| Chaffinch | 8 | 1997 | 2004 | 11 |
| Great spotted woodpecker | 6 | 1992 | 1998 | 10 |
| Treecreeper | 4 | 1983 | 1988 | 8 |
This page last updated 20th September 2005 by E M Gill