78
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
coal tits and great tits. One's first impression was that leaves
were being driven wildly by wind. In reality it was a calm
bright day and the "leaves" were birds—chiefly bramblings.
A few bramblings may sometimes be seen near the Jubilee
Retreat in frosty weather. I have also heard and seen them on
trees at Leppitt's Hill.
Snow-Bunting. On March 13th, 1925, I saw a Snow-
Bunting at High Beach. The bramblings, mentioned above,
had left and there were very few birds about, when suddenly
this bird, in dazzling black and white plumage, shot out from the
base of the bank just below me. The Snow Bunting had not
previously been recorded for Epping Forest, but as at that time
there lived near-by a man who kept various birds in captivity,
it may possibly have been an escape from a cage. The excellent
condition of its plumage is, however, a point in favour of its
having been of genuinely wild origin.
Lesser Redpoll. On October 9th, 1930, among the birch
trees above Dick Turpin's Cave, I saw a flock of at least fifty
redpolls, clinging in tit-like fashion to the twigs. The crackling
of the birch cones was audible whilst they fed and in the sunshine
the crimson heads were clearly seen.
Birds of the Hornbeam and Oak Forest.
In typical Forest, such as Bury Wood and Hawk Wood,
the Spring season is marked by the arrival of several species of
migrant birds, that come for the nesting season. Those that
are present in large numbers are the Chiffchaff, Willow
Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and
Spotted Flycatcher. The Lesser Whitethroat is fairly
frequent. Two species of migrants which come regularly but
in small numbers are the Redstart and the Wood Warbler.
When the migrants have left in the autumn, the Forest is
peopled with parties of resident birds, which explore the trees
and the ground for food. Amongst these are flocks of
Greenfinches and Chaffinches and parties of Longtailed,
Great, Blue, Coal and Marsh Titmice, Goldcrests and
Treecreepers. Often such parties of small insect-eating
birds are made up of several species.
This year (1930) has apparently been very favourable to
successful bird-rearing in Epping Forest. For a week from