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3. REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Whereever there are old trees such as Hornbeam, or
old Oak trees withholes, this once provided a suitable
habitat for Redstarts. Thorndon Park and Hartswood
were strongholds visited by the Club. In 1972 the
members who attended the meeting in Thorndon Park
will remember seeing a Male Redstart quite near the
cars in the Main Car Park. It is now a very rare
breeding bird in Essex.
4. NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus europaeus
Probably now rarely breeding in Essex. It was heard
during the mid-1960's in Thorndon Park and Ongar Park
Woods, and in the 1950's it was heard at Mill Green.
This is a bird which Members would be most interested
to hear at one of our meetings.
5. WOOD WARBLER Phylloscopus sibilartrix
Always a scarce bird in Essex. At a meeting on 30th
April 1967, Epping Forest, Monks Woods, about 20
members saw and heard one. A few are heard each year,
but one could not arrange a meeting especially to hear
Wood Warblers. During the late 1960's and early 1970's
it was recorded in Hartswood and Thorndon Park.
6. TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis
A bird whose status is certainly doubtful. However,
since the 1960's this bird has been regularly recorded
at Mill Green and Highwoods, Tiptree, Danbury, Thorndon
Park, Hartswood, South Weald and Curtis Mill Green.
It must have songposts such as a standard Oak tree.
7. NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos
This bird was fairly widespread in Epping Forest, Mill
Green, Danbury and other woodlands in the Margaretting
area. At Mill Green it has been heard every year 1965
to 1978. However, since 1978 no records have been
noted by the Club. Fingringhoe Wick Reserve has a
very high percentage of the birds heard in Essex. It
is certainly a bird that prefers secondary growth,
particularly where coppicing has taken place.