70
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
their lives unmolested in considerable luxury on fish, which
abound in the reservoir.
It is no uncommon sight in the afternoons and evenings to
see flocks of stately Herons coming from Epping Forest and
Wanstead to wade, fish and feed on the shores of the
reservoirs. I have counted as many as 50 around the King
George Reservoir majestically wading and fishing for their
evening meal, notwithstanding the air has sometimes been
full of aeroplanes, of which they take no notice whatever.
During the last year or two several pairs have nested on the
low trees in the islands of the Walthamstow Reservoirs, but, I
fear, with little success. Although these islands are sanctuaries
for wild birds and wild fowl, they are infested with Carrion Crows,
those rapacious unblushing robbers who rob every nest irres-
pective of size and species of nearly every bird inhabiting these
islands. Although the Heron is a strong and powerful bird, he is
no match for these cunning daylight robbers, who sit on the ad-
joining trees waiting for the Herons to leave their nest, when they
pounce down, break and suck the eggs, and turn the shells out
of the nest on to the ground. Of all the nests I have visited,
shells were to be found on the ground. These Carrion Crows
appear to have acquired a habit during the last few years of
hunting the rank vegetation on the bank and islands like a dog
in search of the wild fowl's eggs, particularly those of the Tufted
Duck, instead of searching the rubbish heaps in the neighbour-
hood for choice morsels in varying stages of decomposition.
During the war Kingfishers have increased considerably,
and for the last two years have nested in the river banks broken
away by the floods, and it is no uncommon sight to see some
half a dozen flitting about like Fire Flies, illuminating the air
with their gorgeous iridescent plumage, all in their natural state
within a few miles of the City of London.
There are several species of Wild Fowl inhabiting and breeding
in the islands and shores of the Reservoirs; they consist of Wild
Duck, Teal, Tufted Duck in great numbers, Coots, Moorhens,
Great Crested Grebes, of which there are many pairs, and Lesser
Grebes (Dabchicks), besides Peewit and Land Rail, which nest
on the banks. At other seasons of the year, especially in winter
and rough weather, the waters are visited by flocks of several
species of Terns, and occasionally by Dunlins, Redshanks, Oyster