Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)

(1) Where, when and how many?

Many bird enthusiasts consider it a red letter day when clear, prolonged views of a Firecrest are obtained
© Frank Vassen / Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

(2) A wildlife success story

The Firecrest represents a huge wildlife success story, a story largely crafted by nature rather than resulting from the work of conservationists, although without the efforts of dedicated ornithologists, the tale could not be told - Mike Adams in the first instance discovered Firecrests breeding in the New Forest, whilst Mike, Marcus Ward, Russell Wyn and latterly Rob Clements have since extensively monitored the fortunes of this attractive bird.

Anyway, way back in the mid-20th century the New Forest was, and to some extent still is, towards the north-western edge of the Firecrest's breeding range. The species then was more associated with the warmer parts of mainland Europe, but during the first half of that century, and subsequently, its range expanded, primarily to the north and west.

In the UK until the early 1960s, Firecrests were known only as regular spring and autumn migrants in very small numbers, primarily at coastal locations. But during the 1961 breeding season, the species was recorded at Bolderwood in the New Forest - four birds in total, including three singing males - and in 1962, six singing males were observed and fledged young were later seen being fed, thereby establishing proof of breeding.

The Firecrest is still a New Forest 'speciality' bird
© Ron Knight / Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Subsequently, in 1972 Edwin Cohen and John Taverner (A Revised List of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Birds) noted that 'a few pairs have nested since at least 1962 and there are occasional reports of birds in winter' although, in fact, in the period to 1972, up to 27 territories were discovered each year in the New Forest.

The Firecrest population during the breeding season has since increased considerably and the birds have colonised many new areas within the New Forest, within the county and farther afield, although the Crown Lands continue to hold a significant proportion of both the Hampshire and national populations. Indeed, it could be said that the Firecrest is still something of a New Forest 'speciality' bird.

The upward trend in recent years has been particularly marked, with 165 territories recorded on the Crown Lands in 2009, 266 in 2011 and 531 in 2014, whilst in 2016 a massive 602 territories were recorded, part of an estimated New Forest population at that time of 1,400 pairs, which includes an estimate of the number of Firecrests present in woodland on private land, in large gardens and elsewhere within the New Forest perambulation.

A significant proportion of the recorded increases undoubtedly reflect increased observer effort, including rigorously conducted breeding season surveys in some recent years, but the New Forest Firecrest population has clearly increased considerably since that 1962 discovery, maybe in part as a result of behavioural changes within the birds' population and probably also following the more frequent occurrence of milder winters.

(Firecrests are tiny birds that are highly likely to be susceptible to harsh winter weather in much the same way as other small birds - such as goldcrests, wrens, long-tailed tits and Dartford warblers - whilst, unless special efforts are made, under-recording is also likely, again due to the birds' small size and also to their tree top habits and, for some observers, its 'difficult to hear' song).

(For lots more information about the status of the Firecrest in the New Forest, please refer to papers included in the Hampshire Bird Reports of 2009 (John Eyre), 2012 (Marcus Ward and Russell Wynn) and 2016 (Rob Clements, Marcus Ward and Russell Wynn), all of which were used in the preparation of the brief summary produced here).