68
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
from where these animals originated is unknown. Prior to these sightings
no Red Squirrels had been seen in the area since the late 1950s. It is most
unlikely that these animals had recently moved into the area naturally
since there are no other known colonies within reasonable distance, and
the only plausible explanation is that they were introduced. It is interesting
to note that the first Grey Squirrels appeared in the Danbury area eighteen
years earlier in the autumn of 1953. No records of Red Squirrels have been
made in the Danbury area since 1971.
Map 2
The only records in the north of the county are a few unconfirmed
reports, particularly around Halstead, at the turn of the decade.
Red Squirrels were reported to be present in Weeley Hall Wood during
1970, and some of these were shot in mistake for Greys. No Red Squirrels
were reported to be present the following year, when the wood was
surveyed as part of the MAFF Squirrel Survey.
To the east of Colchester the 1971 England and Wales Squirrel Survey,
conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Pest
Infestation Control Laboratory, recorded three positive sightings in the
parish of St. Osyth, and one in Little Oakley. Also in 1971 a Red Squirrel
was seen in August in a large garden at Kirby le Soken.
Firmin (1971) recorded that Red Squirrels were 'still found in Lexden,
Berechurch and Mile End districts of Colchester, as well as the Langham,