I was a member of the RSPB for many years and had often spent days searching for Goldcrests but had never seen one until today!! I was hoeing around my shallots ot the edge of my plot and in the hedge,not 3 feet away from me, was a female (yellow stripe on crown), my first "live" Goldcrest ;)
How lovely chaz. It seems your patience was rewarded. :)
well done! That's another tick for your book, then. ;D