Fire & Gold, if I may be so bold?

The differences between the Fire Crest and the Gold crest.

The Fire crest, is a tiny little bird rarely seen in Britain other than in a few locations in the south east. (These photos were taken by me in West Sussex) I particularly like this shot as the leaf mirrors the orange tinged green colouration of the birds shoulder plumage.

These birds make their nests, Gold crests, under an overhanging conifer branch or tight against a tree trunk covered in Ivy and lay as many as a dozen eggs. I've never seen their eggs and would not be so invasive, but I did manage this shot on full telephoto from up a steep bank. The nest was 3 metres up from the ground

People often ask; "How do you get so close to such a rare bird" The one in the photo above was just arms length away from me. The truth is that just because a bird is rare, scarce or elusive, it doesn't mean it's more terrified of a human, if one's body language is non aggressive and your clothing colours appropriate. These birds on this day were actually interested in me for a very good reason, I was very gently whistling a tune, 'Blackbird' The Beatles 1968. Most folk I ask have never noticed, probable because it's so faint, but the young of all songbirds and those that are moulting sometimes hide in bushes and quietly practice singing. If a human does it, birds are fascinated and come for a look at, the 'pink monkey' as my grandfather called humans, trying to speak their language.

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The Gold crest is quite common all over Britain but rather more shy than the Fire crest. I like these birds very much and often spend time with them. They really are cute sometimes, take a look at this individual that was under the canopy with me avoiding a shower and became fascinated with a yellow leaf the same colour as it's crest...

Male Gold crests can however get very angry and another male chasing their partner, similar to all creatures, including humans. Their response is to take cover in case of attack but to raise their crest, and their voice, in the hope that they are louder, stronger and more handsome than the intruder.

Then it's back to being cute.. always works for me haha!