It feels like I haven’t stopped moving this week – desperately trying to catch up with the backlog of things I want to do whilst keeping up with what I’m already doing and getting on with my day job! So, I think it’s appropriate to share an image of a bird that always seems to be on the move – the goldcrest.
To be frank, goldcrests tend to cause me a lot of frustration (from a photography point of view, obviously). Not only do they never pause for longer than a millisecond, they always seem to be partially obscured by something. If the light is generally good, they will be hopping about in the shadiest spot. If the light is non-existent, they are perched on a branch in full view. If I sound bitter, I am! Actually, that’s a lie. I do love the challenge these tiny birds present and it’s impossible to watch them without a smile on my face.
The image above was captured on a recent stroll through my local park. I was going to delete it as the bird is facing in the opposite direction and you can’t see its distinctive crest. However, when I looked at it on my laptop I realised that you can see the colours on its wings, that you can see the detail of its tiny toes, and that it is framed by bare branches. So, this image was saved from the recycle bin at the last minute. I guess this serves as a reminder to give images a second look before mercilessly hitting the delete button.
I also have another cause for hope. It wasn’t that long ago that I told you that the long-tailed tit was my nemesis. Since the beginning of last winter, I have spent time with these birds, getting to know their behaviour and the places I am likely to spot them. Since then, I have captured many images of my beloved flying teaspoons that I am more than happy with. I even got to photograph long-tailed tit fledglings for the first time back in the Spring, proving that it’s worth sticking with a species that you find tricky to photograph.
The goldcrest is Europe’s smallest bird and weighs less than 6 grams. Its Latin name is Regulus regulus, which means “petty king” or “prince”, referring to its golden crown. They are also known as my new nemesis, but hopefully not for long.