I spotted the tiniest of birds in a fir tree yesterday, about the length of my thumb! This was a goldcrest fledgling waiting to be fed by its parent. I heard its high pitched whistle and that’s what made me look up into the branches the tree.
The goldcrest is Britain’s smallest bird, even smaller than a wren. It is only 9cm long and has a wingspan of 14cm. To get an idea of how light it is hold a ten pence piece in your hand, this is the same weight as a goldcrest – 6 grams. Although I know about it being the smallest bird I still was amazed to see how tiny it was.
Here is a photo of Mum or Dad coming with breakfast. Goldcrests have especially thin beaks suited for prising insects out from between pine needles.
The photo below shows a goldcrest perched in an apple tree sapling at a garden centre. It gives some idea of the size of the bird when you see it next to the apple blossom and also the label.
Here’s one I photographed in autumn time, its golden crest matching the golden colours of these oak leaves. Next time you hear a high pitched whistle look up, you might be treated to a sighting of Britain’s smallest bird.
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 
Hi Sarah,
I love your pics, and the info you add.
I’d love to know roughly whereabouts you are.
Stephen
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Hi, I’m about ten miles North of Glasgow, close to the Campsie Fells. Glad you are enjoying the blog.
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I used to pass through then on the train Fort William, wife and I dreamed once of moving your way among other places, for easier access to the wilds, instead I took up dinghy sailing and learned to escape the crowds another way, but its not the same.
You do well anyway to see, and record so much.
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Lovely photos Sarah. Elizabeth and I were up at the ponds today watching the cygnets and ducklings. Further on we watched a song thrush using a stone as an anvil to ‘tenderise’ a snail before eating it – something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before and I’ve just been reading that they are the only bird to do this.
There has been an owl hooting outside our house at night over the last couple of weeks – I haven’t managed to see it yet!
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Glad you are enjoying the blog. That’s really interesting about the song thrush, I must look out for that. I hope to post about the song thrush sometime, have been trying to record its song.
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Dear Sarah, I haven’t seen you for a few days passing our garden, but wanted to tell you that about half an hour a go a fawn was born in the grass across from our house. Its over by the trees and the dog roses in the middle of the land directly opposite our kitchen window.The mother has been kicking it clean and its been taking a few wobbly steps.There are also Goldcrest chicks in our fir tree that drink from our water feature. Best wishesMatthew & Nigel (74 Lochiel)hope to see you soonSent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
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