On A Picture Of A Long Tailed Tit Poem by Francis Duggan

Unlike most other species of tit family
She does not nest in hole of log or tree
Her nesting habits akin to finch and thrush
And she builds her nest on fork of tree or bush.

In Ireland long tailed tit i oft times see
In fact she was familiar bird to me
With family groups of seven, twelve or ten
In bushy places, wood or wooded glen.

With white on undersides and a snow white head
And dark brown back that showed a tinge of red
And long brown tail for small bird very long
And familiar for her high pitched call and song.

Her domed shaped nest of moss and lichen made
And in the spring up to twelve eggs were laid
Tiny fragile eggs with red spots through the white
A remarkable feat for bird so small and slight.

It takes me back again to years ago
This picture of small bird i used to know
With long brown tail and head as white as snow
My past keeps chasing me where'er i go.