goldcrest

Post and run for me again this morning. We are off to Lakenheath to see family and friends today. About 3-4 hours on the bus, lovely!!!

Goldcrest

One from last month. Thanks to the Council doing the Drains, and their "Slash and Burn" attitude, there's no Blackberry Bush to grow leaves there now, just the wire fence.

I've been putting peanut butter on the bark of the tree for ages, and Robins, Chaffinches, Starlings, and Goldcrests, all land or hover to eat it. But I actually spread it in the hope that I might get a Treecreeper, as I've never seen one. Well yesterday I spotted this land and then climb up...

goldcrest

Goldcrest

I'm now 100% sure there's a few of these feeding on the peanut butter, as there was two in the bush at the same time. I wasn't sure if I was seeing the same bird all day, now I know that I wasn't. I'll try and get some new Jay pics today, though they're still nervous of the changes from the...

I was amazed this came out, as it was almost too close to focus on, was moving fast (like they always do) and I'd only got 1/160th speed from the gloom.

One from yesterday; not through the window. Camera Maker: Panasonic Camera Model: DMC-FZ28 Image Date: 2011-02-25 11:40:38 (no TZ) Focal Length: 86.4mm (35mm equivalent: 577mm) Aperture: f/4.4 Exposure Time: 0.0080 s (1/125) ISO equiv: 320 Exposure Bias: +0.33 EV Metering Mode: Center Weight...

I like the pose and expression on this, and the Goldcrest seemed like it was shouting at the Pigeons below (but of course, it wasn't|=)|) Wire fence and heavy crop (No TC attached).

Heavy crop, and through the wire fence, but just to show again that these like peanut butter. Also to show that this one is greedy.|=)|

Deserves a caption, but I've too many in my head; so decide yourself.|=)| A bit noisy, but I like the expression. Camera Maker: Panasonic Camera Model: DMC-FZ28 Image Date: 2011-02-14 11:41:39 (no TZ) Focal Length: 75.3mm (35mm equivalent: 720mm) Aperture: f/3.8 Exposure Time: 0.013 s (1/80)...

One from yesterday. If you're getting sick of the wire fence, don't worry, it'll be covered in leaves in a few months.|=)| Although I'll have problems seeing these birds amongst the leaves. Camera Maker: Panasonic Camera Model: DMC-FZ28 Image Date: 2011-02-14 11:35:37 (no TZ) Focal Length...

Yes, another Goldcrest pic I'm afraid.|=)| I'll catch them doing something different eventually, but ATM I'm just pleased to get daily pictures of them. I've a backlog of over 20 Goldcrest pics to upload, but I keep getting new ones each day. I'll try and upload something else later (after the...

Another pic from yesterday. These really are regulars now, and even risk feeding right next to the Chaffinches. Like I said before though, once the leaves grow back getting pics won't be so easy, so you'll be getting sick of seeing these pics soon.|=)| Not through the window; oh, and actually...

Yes, another GC pic I'm afraid. As you may have noticed, I tend to concentrate on one species until I run out of poses/behaviour to catch. Although I do get distracted by other birds when they are about (GSW/Jay/Sparrowhawk etc). Anyway, for now I'm concentrating on Goldcrests, so here's one...

I'm starting to get the hang of these a bit now; It's just a matter of waiting, as they are in the same area every day. All I need now is good light, then I might get some different poses/behaviour. I've only a few weeks though, as it'll get harder when the leaves grow back on the Blackberry...

Well the Sun didn't last, by the time I got into the garden the clouds were back. I got a few pics of the Goldcrest while in the garden though. Sparrowhawk had been down, so I thought it worth the risk of going out again.

Just a quick pic I took just now. The Sun came out for a bit, so I'm going in the garden again to try for a few more pics. Still not great light for this pic, but better than yesterday.

I was in the garden in the pouring rain just now, getting pics of the Goldcrests (I know, but I had to try|=)|). And the good news is I caught one with peanut butter in it's bill; the bad news is the front of the camera lens was wet, so half the bird is just a mass of image noise. Anyway, my...

I've found a downside to going into the garden. The Goldcrests are still there most of the day, and I've plenty of opportunities for pictures. But I forgot about some of my other visitors, that won't tolerate my presence unless I'm behind the glass. I looked out of the window, and saw one of...

It flicked it's tail at the wrong time, but the head was still(ish). Only managed 1/40th second shutter speed again, but not through the window. Camera Maker: Panasonic Camera Model: DMC-FZ28 Image Date: 2011-02-06 16:16:25 (no TZ) Focal Length: 79.9mm (35mm equivalent: 765mm) Aperture: f/4.0...

Well, I said I'd reveal how I'm encouraging these to stay in the bushes a bit longer, rather than high up the trees. It's worked every day for nearly a week now, so I guess I can rule out luck or coincidence. They're now in the bush many times throughout the day, so more opportunities for...