John Cantelo
Well-known member
Way back in the late 60s I was taken to a hush-hush ultra-secret site in the New Forest where Firecrests had established a small colony. Back in the 80s (I think) having moved to Kent I was told in confidence that Firecrest were now breeding in the county & taken to the site. Fast forward to the present day and in my neck of the world (east Kent) Firecrests now seem to be more common than Goldcrests. Earlier this year a friend and I had 15 Firecrests but only one Goldcrest in my local woods (Old Park, Canterbury). In January I had 6 Firecrests but only a single Goldcrest in Blean Woods (Canterbury). I've just now returned from another local walk & had 4 Firestrests but only a single Goldcrest. Last year a friend found 26 singing Firecrest in a part of a large woodland a few miles from Canterbury. friend Talking with other Kent birders they all say the same - Firecrests have increased on their patch.
So is this a national trend or one limited to Kent and the southeast? Is it linked to a changing climate?
So is this a national trend or one limited to Kent and the southeast? Is it linked to a changing climate?