Goldcrest sound everywhere but how best to spot them ? Cabinteely woods, South County Dublin (1 Viewer)

[Thegeezer9999]

This location is always alive with the high-pitched pheep pheeep of this lovely bird, but they seem to always be at the top of the trees so what tricks do you use to spot these ? Is it about the time of day, or is there some other way to make seeing them more likely ? I managed only once to see them flitting around the branches at the top of the pine tree, but would love to add to this sighting !

Thank you

 

[Mono]

I managed only once to see them flitting around the branches at the top of the pine tree, but would love to add to this sighting !

That is what they do! If you are used to the sound then scout around for movement when you hear them.

 

[Sancho]

You'll find them anywhere local with Conifers, Geezer....Kilbogget Park, Killiney Hill, etc. Problem is, they're usually high in the trees so even with binoculars all you'll see is their undersides. Nicest views I get of them are in my back yard. Do you put up feeders in winter? Peanuts, sunflower seeds, niger seeds etc.

 

[dantheman]

Find some more open areas, clearings or rides where you can stand further back and look at a shallower angle rather than just looking straight up. If you can do this on a slope you can be at closer range. Find some areas with smaller trees, and if you can find them in more mixed plant habitat (not just uniform conifers) they can be seen in much lower vegetation (gardens, scrubby bushes etc).

Stay still and watch for movement. Gaps in trees where they have to fly across give you a chance of seeing where they land, and follow them from there.

 

[kids]

This location is always alive with the high-pitched pheep pheeep of this lovely bird, but they seem to always be at the top of the trees so what tricks do you use to spot these ? Is it about the time of day, or is there some other way to make seeing them more likely ? I managed only once to see them flitting around the branches at the top of the pine tree, but would love to add to this sighting !

Thank you

I was told they respond well to their calls. Not something I use but if you have Collins or similar .........
Rob

 

[Larry Sweetland]

I don't know about your area, but where I live in England we have mixed feeding flocks of tits at this time of year, many of which also contain Goldcrests. These flocks tend to do circuits where the roam around an area, and can normally be seen well when they pass through lower vegetation.

 

[Richard D]

I don't know about your area, but where I live in England we have mixed feeding flocks of tits at this time of year, many of which also contain Goldcrests. These flocks tend to do circuits where the roam around an area, and can normally be seen well when they pass through lower vegetation.

Good point on mixed tit/Goldcrest flocks. Habitat margins (hedgerow/woodland edges) can be good, but old yew trees in parks and cemeteries are generally excellent.

 

[Thegeezer9999]

I was there today and OMG, the goldcrests seem to be everywhere, I even managed to spot one or two flitting at the top of the trees. It was beautiful to hear them seemingly trying to outdo each other (or maybe just calling to each other ?) and add to that the calls of the chaffinches, long-tailed tits, great tits, blue tits, robins and the always beautiful wrens, and you realize what a goldmine of sights and sounds this park is host to.

 

[Andy Lakin]

I was told they respond well to their calls. Not something I use but if you have Collins or similar .........
Rob

They do usually and also I've found Coal Tits and wrens especially respond readily. Personally I wouldn't overdo it as it obviously affects their feeding temporarily. I definitely wouldn't do it when the weather is dire.

 

[McHeath]

This location is always alive with the high-pitched pheep pheeep of this lovely bird, but they seem to always be at the top of the trees so what tricks do you use to spot these ? Is it about the time of day, or is there some other way to make seeing them more likely ? I managed only once to see them flitting around the branches at the top of the pine tree, but would love to add to this sighting !

Thank you

I don’t know if the Irish Goldcrests behave similarly to the ones here in Berlin, but here winter is the best time to get close to them. They congregate in small groups and seem to prefer the lower branches and shrubs (maybe because it‘s slightly warmer lower down, i.e. more chance of finding insects?)
They also show no fear of humans; I‘ve regularly been able to stand only a couple of metres from a group and observe them.
Maybe our sometimes very cold winters have something to do with this behaviour; I presume that they sleep huddled together as do many small birds in winter, and if they stay together during the day they won‘t have to waste energy finding each other to ensure a warmer roost. And maybe they‘ve evolved so that those who have no fear of animals above a certain size have a better chance of survival because they waste less energy through flight. All conjecture, but here Winter is definitely the best time for detailed observation of the little beauties.

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

Seems to be a park, quite busy on the ground, although they are not shy in general.

Better, search for hills with pine trees. Go uphill, soon you are at the same height as the trees in the valley. They seem to know you can't jump that far.

 

[Sancho]

I was there today and OMG, the goldcrests seem to be everywhere, I even managed to spot one or two flitting at the top of the trees. It was beautiful to hear them seemingly trying to outdo each other (or maybe just calling to each other ?) and add to that the calls of the chaffinches, long-tailed tits, great tits, blue tits, robins and the always beautiful wrens, and you realize what a goldmine of sights and sounds this park is host to.

Yes Geezer, Cabinteely Park is excellent. DLR council did a great job when they took over the old Cabinteely House etc. I think Great Spotted Woodpecker breed there, so keep your ear out for their "Kip, Kip" alarm calls all year round, and their "drumming" in early Spring. (GSW only started breeding in Ireland in the first decade of this century)