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THE ESSEX NATURALIST
A similar observation is recorded from Loughton. A resident, visiting
her poultry-run in February, 1946, surprised a sparrow-hawk therein and
managed to catch it, but the bird soon died.
P. Thompson.
House sparrows stripping lime twigs. On 26th March, 1946, we noticed
that a pair of house sparrows were taking the bark from a branch of a tree
in a front garden. The tree is the common lime; about 2ft. 6in. had been
stripped by 30th March. On 1st April a second branch was attacked ; by
30th July all work appeared to be finished and the branches were examined
more closely. They did not appear to have been previously diseased or
damaged. The two branches completely cleared of bark each measured
6ft. 6in. long by fin. diam. I estimate that a total of over 170 sq. in. of bark
had been removed from the two branches. There may have been more
than one pair of birds at work—circumstances did not permit of a more
accurate observation.
Richard Ward.
Rare birds near Colchester, In April, 1946, a night heron visited the
South Essex Waterworks reservoir near Colchester, where I was able to
examine it through glasses and make certain of its identity. In October, 1946,
I had a good view of a great grey shrike which was sitting on a telegraph
wire on Mersea Island. I am familiar with both these birds abroad. Another
rare bird which visited the reservoir during November, 1946, was a bittern ;
it was unfortunately shot by a person who knew no better and I have its
skin in my possession.
C. G. Mangles, Lt.-Col.
Fallow Buck at Parndon. During the summer of 1945 a male fallow deer,
believed to have strayed from Epping Forest, frequented the Parndon district.
G. Dent.
There are (October, 1946) a number of fallow deer in the woods about
Aimes Green. Deer straying from the Epping Forest herd must be less
frequently disturbed in some of the larger woods and may breed there. It
would be interesting to have details from those who know of such occurrences.
C. B. Pratt.
Seal at Southend. A seal was observed from the end of Southend Pier
at high tide about midday on 2nd May, 1946. For over an hour it appeared
at intervals of 10-15 minutes, remaining on the surface usually about two
minutes. When first seen it was within 30-35 yards of the pier-head and,
during the period we watched it, was never more than 200 yards away. It
appeared to be interested in the onlookers, who, with almost complete
unanimity, described it as a "porpoise"!
G. H. Greaves.
BOOK NOTICE
The Story of the Parish Church of Loughton, Essex. By Percy Thompson.
It is always pleasant to find a little book providing, in easily read form,
an account of the history of one of our parish churches. When, as so often
happens, the present building is a comparatively modern one which has
replaced an earlier parish church, such an account written by one well versed
in the history of the church and its predecessor is more than ever necessary
to help one visualise the generations of faithful parishioners who have
worshipped in and cared for the ancient foundation.