Goldcrest

[toms]

Lockdown does have some plus sides. While looking up at the top of my birch tree I saw a strange bird. Off to the magic RSPB book and to my surprise it was a Goldcrest, the smallest bird in Europe. Having got a few shots of its back underside and anything but what I wanted it then proceeded to walk along a branch for me with its crest raised. Every picture I'd seen only shows the feathers flattened down its neck. So this is my picture of the month and probably one that I'd never be able to repeat.
Tom

Goldcrest in birch the canopy - 22 March 2021

Goldcrest.jpg (398.78 KiB) Viewed 7647 times

[Tina]

Wow Tom I'm jealous. We have seen a goldcrest in our garden a couple of times but they are so small and flighty and I didn't have my camera ready.
I will have to be more observant and patient to try and capture an image of one. We've also seen them in Shirley Hills near the viewpoint.
Have never seen one with it's crest up like that. I guess it's mating season.
Keep well.
Tina

[toms]

Hi Tina,
I've never seen one before so I'll certainly keep a lookout next time I'm at Shirley Hills. In watching to see if it came back, which it has for the past 5 days, I've been introduced to redwings and blackcaps, two other birds I hadn't recognised before.
Regards,
Tom

[Tina]

Hi Tom
The redwings and blackcaps are winter visitors so may have left now. We haven't seen any for a week or so.
Another bird we have seen for the first time this year is the siskin. They are pretty yellow birds and we have seen about half a dozen of them on our feeders.
Not sure if they will stay though.
One day when we had snow we briefly saw a common redpoll. Graham managed a shot but I wasn't quick enough.
It's amazing how many species we get.
Keep watching.
Tina

[toms]

Hi Tina,

Just out of boredom I've been logging the species of birds landing in the garden for the past two weeks. I've seen not less than 13 and no more than 18 species a day but certainly not any siskins or redpolls.

As you said, it is hard to get a great picture of the goldcrest as they only stay on a branch for about 2 seconds. Combined with the overhanging foliage of a birch tree it's down to manual focussing only for me.

Regards,

Tom

[Iggy]

Hi Tom,
What a beautiful little bird with its gold crest up.
A great shot. Well done!
Iggy

[Bett]

Lovely photo of the Goldcrest, if you want to see more Coombe Wood is an ideal place loads in the Fir trees therehttp://forums.croydoncameraclub.or ... ew&id=4043

[davidb]

Well done Tom - the Croydon Group of the RSPB have used your Goldcrest in their newsletter.

[Iggy]

Is there an online version of the RSPB Croydon Group of this newsletter with Tom's Goldcrest?