More than half a century after the Dartford warbler almost vanished from the English countryside, the charismatic heathland bird appears to be staging a comeback.

A survey has revealed the highest number of Dartford warblers ever recorded on reserves run by the bird conservation charity RSPB , with 264 pairs counted in 2025, a 44% increase in five years.

Dartford warblers are small birds that may be glimpsed perched on top of gorse singing a scratchy song, and are found on lowland heathland in southern England .

They are grey-brown, with a distinctive red eye ring, russet breast and long tail. They are particularly sensitive to harsh winter weather and, as a ground-nesting species, rely on dense gorse in areas of mature heathland for food and shelter.

The RSPB has been restoring heathland on nature reserves.…