A golden moment

[AshLee]

I was doing some "wildlife husbandry" in the woodland section of my garden today when it seemed that the air around me suddenly became alive. The sun started shining, the noises of birds filled my ears, then a flock of tiny birds descended on the trees above. Inwardly I filled with what can only be described as pure joy, for one brief moment. "They are not dead after all!" I shouted to myself.

And then one little brave soul decided to put her trust in me and started feeding from my feeder about two arms' lengths away. I went to get a camera and then I asked her to come back, and she obliged.


Camera shy?

Not at all!

Well hello gorgeous!


Now I could describe what happened to a thousand people and they really wouldn't understand what I was so happy about. A few birds came into your garden - what's the big deal?

No big deal, it's simply made my day.

[artdemole]

Thats nature for you!

[Tracey.A]

Lovely little Goldcrest, I've never managed to get a pic of one They never keep still for a minute I know exactly what you mean when something like this happens - huge feel good factor! Wildlife moments like you had always leave me with a daft smile on my face and my husband asking me what I'm grinning about. I just think what a shame he didn't understand.

Tracey

[aeshna5]

Nice one! There are certainly fewer around- We went to Wisley today + I saw one well + heard another singing, certainly not many there.

[AshLee]

Thanks guys, I knew you'd understand

I was chuffed that I've started to recognise the calls/song of the Goldcrest. And I was even more pleased that I could hear these. Apparently they are so high-pitched that many people can't hear them

[Dogghound]

This species and firecrest are particularly hit hard by cold winters. Clearly their small size is heavily affected by cold temperatures also their diet is almost exclusively insects and invertebrates which tend to go deeper into cover of die off in winter. This species tend to favour thicker conifers for foraging due to the fact they hold more insects. I have been out and checked my local patch which still seems to have a decent population although the real damage will be assessed when I (try) and count the amount of breeding territories this year. I will also try to get incontact with a friend in the BTO who is conducting woodland breeding bird surveys in the local area so I can see how much damage has occured in the wider area.

Back to the subject it is a fantasitc species to get in your garden and not to common on feeder in my experience.