Some of the longer-lived tit species breed in the wood. The marsh tit whose retrap history is shown below is the oldest so far seen on the reserve, but only one of several which have been retrapped for four years or more. Sometimes they apparently disappear for several years and then return; this one was not seen in 1995,1996 or 1997. The oldest chaffinch so far caught on the reserve was not seen for four years but since then has regularly turned up, both summer and winter.
One of the older great tits fledged on the reserve returns regularly to a feeding station at Little Wittenham Manor Gardens, as does a 5-year old blue tit.
This page last updated 29th September 2004 by E M Gill