Goldcrest

[Tilly2]

Yesterday, there was, what I think was a goldcrest , eating on the fat ball holder. The bluetits came and drove it away. It was noticeably smaller than the bluetits but it didn't have a yellow stripe on its head. I've looked on the RSPB bird identifier site and it looks like a juvenile one. Would that be right at this time of the year?
I've never seen one before. I'm going to be watching out for it today.

[rowanwitch]

could well be they can be quite dull this time of year anyway if it was smaller thsn awren and greenish then it was if it was bigger than a wren it might be something else maybe a siskin was it stubby looking or thinnish

[Tilly2]

It was stubby looking, rowan and it was smaller than a bluetit.
Ithink it was probably about the same size as a wren. It was very flitty in its movements. I've seen it again this morning and again, the bluetits have shooed it away.
I'll have a look at a siskin.

[Chipchopper]

If it had similar markings to the blue tits and was smaller could it have been a coal tit you saw
The flitty movements you describe also suggest, to me that you may want to check tree creeper in your book, not often seen on feeders but will use them if food is scarce

[Tilly2]

I wasn't a coal tit and it wasn't the right shape for a tree creeper. It was also too small. I will have another look at the bird identifier.
Thanks, anyway.

[rowanwitch]

stubby then goldcrest is most likely

[Anngel]

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&;tbo=d&rlz=1C1CHMO_enGB517GB517&biw=1440&bih=785&tbm=isch&;tbnid=JpCvkvH0uzLCxM:&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/livingworld_20040104.shtml&docid=YL0KZvDrH1yEbM&imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/media/lw_goldcrest.jpg&w=247&h=170&ei=T1z0UK2LDMGf0QX12YD4Aw&zoom=1&;iact=hc&vpx=491&vpy=202&dur=833&hovh=136&hovw=197&tx=101&ty=85&sig=116146845268252257285&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=196&start=0&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:105

Try looking at this? The best way to tell a goldcrest is that it is really tiny.

[Tilly2]

I'm now convinced that it was a goldcrest. I saw it again and had the binoculars handy. I could see the yellow stripe on its head. Lovely little thing. The blue tits were really horrible to it and I love blue tits!

[Chipchopper]

Ah good that yellow stripe confirms it!
Birds often bully smaller rivals when in a feeding frenzy, still I think you are privileged to see one on your feeder!