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Goldcrest

purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 4,837
in Wildlife gardening
I've just seen my first ever goldcrest!!!!🥳
Female in the hawthorn tree, never would have seen it if I didn't have my new binoculars the hubby got me for Christmas. 😁😁😁😁😁
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Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Lovely!
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,902
    I haven’t seen one for a while here. They used to nest in the cupressus hedge. I still have one of their tiny nests. Lots of feathers and lichen and spider silk but as tough as steel.
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,085
    People are always quick to dismiss conifers as having no benefit to wildlife, but they are a favourite haunt of goldcrests.
    We get them regularly here, although you don't see them as often as other birds - they're quite secretive. 
    Lovely wee things  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,035
    I once watched a Goldcrest just a few feet away from me in my garden. It was repeatedly flying into a swarm of midges then returning to its perch.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 4,837
    In the past my binoculars weren't strong enough, so I was probably thinking they were blue tits hopping around the branches. It's hard when things are 10 foot up and back lit to tell.😁
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    That's it @purplerallim! I keep telling them to stay still while I get a good look but they never listen....
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 4,837
    😆 @Posy
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,046
    How lovely! They are quite rare here so have never seen one. I agree about conifers, they do have value. Gold Finches nest in our Cupressus and Blackbirds and Thrushes in the Leylandii.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,167
    A few years ago we stayed near an RSPB centre in the peak district & I treated myself to a decent pair of binoculars. What a difference they make 🙂
    AB Still learning

  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,323
    Fairygirl said:
    People are always quick to dismiss conifers as having no benefit to wildlife, but they are a favourite haunt of goldcrests.
    Lovely wee things  :)
    Partly why we have not got rid of our.... gasp, shock, horror...Leylandii yet.

    purplerallim said:
    In the past my binoculars weren't strong enough, so I was probably thinking they were blue tits hopping around the branches. It's hard when things are 10 foot up and back lit to tell.😁
    We think the same sometimes, you see something hanging upside down doing acrobatics. Congrats on your first sighting.
     
    But you can't miss  hear them once you know what they sound like, they seem to make quite a racket when flying around. Small noise but fairly noticeable if your hearing is okay :D

    @pansyface lovely photo with the 50p for reference.
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