The gorgeous Goldcrest.

Over the last week or so I have been concentrating my photography on a number of small bird species that are local to where I live in Sheffield.

One of the species that I have spent a fair bit of time on has been the goldcrest.

Whilst they are actually very common, especially in small fir/pine/larch plantations they are incredibly inconspicuous, though not shy.

I have spent a few hours every morning in one of two small fir woods and slowly built up a series of images. Goldcrests are small but full of character and the bright yellow blaze, neatly fringed in black really sets of the more subtle greens and fawns of their plumage.