Goldcrest.

[JohnP]

I had a really nice walk in the woods near where I live this morning, I saw Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Buzzards, Fieldfares, Coal Tits, Long Tailed Tits, a Marsh Tit, Carrion Crows, Ravens and plenty of the more usual birds. I even heard a Tawny Owl, it must have been disturbed by something when sleeping... a Squirrel maybe as they are nocturnal. Recently I've been seeing Goldcrests and that is one bird I've never managed to get a single shot of until today. I'm very disappointed with the shots I did get, I took loads and I just could not get what I wanted, these birds don't ever stop moving. Has anyone else on the forum taken good shots of them, if so how the heck did you manage it? These shots are the best, so you can imagine how bad the rest were.

 

 

[Terry]

Considering their size and constant movement I don't think you've done bad with these. I haven't seen one of them for years. 

[JohnP]

Considering their size and constant movement I don't think you've done bad with these. I haven't seen one of them for years. 

 

Thanks Terry. I'm determined to do better, I've seen them in small numbers in two woods near me. I stood trying to get shots for about an hour and it was really cold so I had to move on back home as I'd walked about 4.5 miles before I spotted this bird and still had over a mile to get home. Maybe next time I'll just head for the same spot and skip the longer walk.

[annie]

lovely....he is soooo cute..!

 

 

.i have been to clare country park today...i snapped a duck...and a robin....and blew me chances with a kestrel....

[JohnP]

Pleased you are enjoying your birding annie!... keep at it, spring is just around the corner... best time for watching birds IMO.

[annie]

i am gonna get brave and go sit in one of them big boys hides............!

[NannyFerret]

They are good, John,  The second one in particular has a lot of detail.

[JohnP]

The problem is they are Britains smallest bird, even smaller than a Wren. They weigh about the same as a 20 pence coin and as I said before they are always moving. Trying to get a photo is extremely hard (for me anyway), I was using 24x zoom, it's like trying to follow a tiny moving bird with a telescope...

[NannyFerret]

i am gonna get brave and go sit in one of them big boys hides............!

Have you seen those camaflaged ones that open out into a seat and hid in one?

I don't think I would sit in the middle of the woods etc. on my own. Someonee might want to rob me of my camera

[JohnP]

Have you seen those camaflaged ones that open out into a seat and hid in one?

I don't think I would sit in the middle of the woods etc. on my own. Someonee might want to rob me of my camera

 

The only problem with portable hides is it's best to erect them and leave the birds and animals to become used to them for a day or two which is not practical unless you own the ground. When they film for nature programs they usually erect those small portable hides in advance, I'm not saying it wouldn't work just erecting one for a few hours to take some shots, the chances of it working would be less likely.

[NannyFerret]

I know what you mean, John. It's the same as them getting used to a new bird table in the garden, isn't it?

[Terry]

I've been thinking of getting one of theses bag hides

 

http://www.outdoorphotographygear.co.uk/items3674.html

[annie]

if the bag hide is anything like my pop up day bivvi i will pass.........flipping it up is a doddle...getting it back in the bag can take me two hours...lol! 

[Terry]

Hi Annie, its what it says on the tin. Its just a bag, no poles etc. You just throw it over yourself

[NannyFerret]

I bet you could make one of those.

What about ebay?