Are Firecrests rare?

natasha38 · #1 (**permalink**) 19-05-2010, 01:28 PM

I saw one a few weeks ago in the woods when out walking my dog. There are quite a few Goldcrests in there but this was definitely a Firecrest. I was quite excited as I'd never seen one but then saw it agian the next day.
Last week a couple of bird spotters were in the woods & me being nosey asked what they'd seen & mentioned I'd seen a Firecrest; one laughed & told me it was probably a GoldCrest, I said it wasn't. He then started going on .... I'd stopped listening by then as he was being patronising & was quite boring. He then asked where I'd spotted it but I started being petty then & said I couldn't rememeber!
Now I know I'm no expert but I didn't think they were that rare, not common but not impossible to spot occasionally.
Are they rare? Was I just REALLY lucky to see one?

captaincarot · #2 (**permalink**) 19-05-2010, 01:30 PM

yes you were lucky.

they are pretty rare and have quite localised distributions mainly southern england.

natasha38 · #3 (**permalink**) 19-05-2010, 01:35 PM

That's where I live! I was chuffed to bits & have looked out for him since but not seen him. There's no way I could've taken a pic as it was in a heavily wooded area so quite dark, I'm a rubbish photographer & I had to contend with my dog pulling as he wanted to get on with his walk.

Rob_D · #4 (**permalink**) 19-05-2010, 04:23 PM

Hi Natasha,

To convince a skeptical birder (or even yourself which is more important), the easiest way is to say why you thought it was a Firecrest and not a Goldcrest. Eg you clearly saw the white eyestripe, or you heard the call was different.

They're not a mega rarity by any means, but they're pretty uncommon residents - a few hundreds at most in the UK - in a few patches like Bucks or the New Forest. Outside of that, they do turn up on migration, or different places in winter. So I'd say you were lucky.

natasha38 · #5 (**permalink**) 19-05-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_D

Hi Natasha,

To convince a skeptical birder (or even yourself which is more important), the easiest way is to say why you thought it was a Firecrest and not a Goldcrest. Eg you clearly saw the white eyestripe, or you heard the call was different.

They're not a mega rarity by any means, but they're pretty uncommon residents - a few hundreds at most in the UK - in a few patches like Bucks or the New Forest. Outside of that, they do turn up on migration, or different places in winter. So I'd say you were lucky.

At the time I thought it was a Firecrest then confirmed it when I got in & looked properly at various pics & listened to it's call.

It was the stripe that confused me at first as I was used to seeing Gold Crests in that area then realised what it was.

Am really please I saw it although my OH is gutted & still insists we walk our dog in the same spot every day just in case it comes back!

Rob_D · #6 (**permalink**) 20-05-2010, 08:30 AM

If it was just passing through then he's going to keep being jealous! Anyway keep your ears open for the call - far easier than trying to see it in all the leaves.

Dae · #7 (**permalink**) 20-05-2010, 09:59 AM

I too think it was a lucky find and entirely possible for you to have seen it, so am surprised somebody would treat your find as unlikely. I myself was surprised to find one in my local patch here in Wales a few winters back where they're unlikely to be as well. My husband never saw him so he also continues to be jealous

acherontia · #8 (**permalink**) 20-05-2010, 11:11 AM

I saw one at Martin Mere in Lancashire a few years back. When OH and I mentioned it to a fellow watcher we got pushed and shoved about as word went about to 25 twitchers from all over the country. It was awful. We had to leave - with difficulty!!
Lesson learnt - keep your mouth shut

Acher

natasha38 · #9 (**permalink**) 21-05-2010, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acherontia

I saw one at Martin Mere in Lancashire a few years back. When OH and I mentioned it to a fellow watcher we got pushed and shoved about as word went about to 25 twitchers from all over the country. It was awful. We had to leave - with difficulty!!
Lesson learnt - keep your mouth shut

Acher

Oh I have done! My OH said I should have told the blokes but one was patronising that I didn't want to & I didn't want too many people spoiling what is a nice, quiet area - bit selfish of me really!

I did hear it rather than see it a couple of times (I'd memeorised it's call from listening on websites) but as it was so tiny & bobbing around a heavy conifer it was quite difficult to spot. Am chuffed to bitsthat I did see it though - I go on about it alot to wind up my OH, he's sick of hearing about it now!!