Tiny bird by a pond

[monkeyrepublic]

Several times now I've observed a LBJ by a local pond. It's really small - like a goldcrest. I didn't think it was a wren, as no perky little tail. But it's a round thing with a pale chest and possibly a light streak above/over the eye... bit difficult to see, though it does come surprisingly close; within a couple of metres when I was out there just half hour ago.

I wondered whether the habits - hanging near a pond, coming surprisingly close to humans - might be telling to someone more knowledgeable than myself.

[Jason Claxton]

Maybe you have yourself a wintering Chiffchaff MR.

[Jason Claxton]

Have you seen a Goldcrest before ?M.R,I assumed that you thought that it wasn't,so I first posted an alternative with similar size and behaviour.Goldcrests often have little fear of man,but then again Chiffchaffs often dont seem that bothered much by us either.

[diggleken]

Hi MR, can you describe its behaviour, whether seen mainly on ground or in bushes and more plumage detail and colouration plus beak type?
Anything adds to the jizz and might lead to a reasonable guess.
Have a look at Dunnock, which can be quite confiding, or even more so chaffinch, might be a female, which often get used to people in parks and come close.................
Cheers
Ken

[thebeard]

i think it could be a dunnock

[daffy66]

hi monkey
could still be a wren.small,brown,pale underside,stripe over eye. i took this one at old moor and you can clearly see its not in the tail up pose.

it was having a real good forage.

john

[michael23]

sounds like it could be a dunnock to me to.

[monkeyrepublic]

Thanks for all the replies. Wren does seem most likely.

I'm quite sure it's not a dunnock - though there is a local population of 'em.

I have seen a goldcrest a couple of times, and this bird interested me because it is very similar in size. Also in body shape, though I guess, plumped up against the cold weather, a wren or such like may look even rounder than normal.

It is always flitting low amongst shrubs and trees at the side of the pond, and I've only ever seen the one on it's own. There are ducks aplenty on the pond, and no shortage of stale bread scattered round (fluctuating rat population can attest to that).