I’ve spotted a Goldcrest
This is the weekend of the UK Big Garden Birdwatch organised by the RSPB. I didn’t sign up. I haven’t got the time to do it properly this year, what with visiting Mum in hospital and having Rod laid up with a dose of the flu, but I couldn’t resist making a small contribution.
I decided to take 15 minutes our of this morning's busy schedule. I went out into the garden and I waited. Sure enough there were the regulars; Blackbirds, Sparrows, Dunnocks, a couple of Blue Tits, a Coal Tit and three stroppy Pigeons... but I could hear something different. It was the thin reedy sound of a Goldcrest. It’s visited our garden before but it’s not easy to spot. It’s even smaller than a Wren. It pecks around the inner branches of our Yew Tree and is much easier to hear than to see. I tried to photograph its gold stripe on its head but it’s a shy little thing and it wouldn’t look at me. This is the best I could manage.
Next year hopefully I’ll be able to spare more time and take part in the survey properly but for now I’m happy to know that the Goldcrest has survived this harsh winter. Good on you, Goldie.
My dad was a huge birdwatcher. He had all kinds of feeders and books where he recorded all the birds he saw. He would have loved the survey idea!
ReplyDeleteHope things are going well with your mum and Rod. Take care!
I love the idea of the survey too! This week we've had honeyeaters in our garden--they hang upside down to get right inside the best flowers: http://www.ozanimals.com/image/albums/australia/Bird/Singing-Honeyeater.jpg
ReplyDeleteWe've had crimson rosellas as well, in huge flocks: http://www.paradiseearth.com/Bird%20Articles/Crimson%20Rosella.jpg
Thanks Jemi. I can understand your Dad's interest. Birdwatching can be really therapeutic.
ReplyDeleteHi Amie. Thank you so much for posting those links, although they put my lovely little Goldcrest into the shade, especially that second one. What a fabulous bird. I can't imagine how exciting it must be to see such colourful flocks. *note to self: must travel more*
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents were massive birdwatchers. I love to see exotic birds (or any birds!); I must admit there aren't a lot around in central London
ReplyDeleteHi Talli, you've got some highly distinctive pigeons in London. They're very different from our Leicester variety.
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