Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus
'A pair of these birds killed some years ago at Epping were presented by the late Mr. Doubleday to the British Museum' (Buxton, 1911).
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
The commonest of the diurnal birds of prey seen in Epping Forest. Frequently noted in the more open parts of the Forest and a regular
breeding species. Four pairs nested in the southern part of the Forest in 1980 (Wren, 1980).
Merlin Falco columbarius
A rare and irregular winter visitor. Edward Doubleday (1835) reported this species to be a rare visitor to Epping Forest in the winter months
(Christy, 1890). Buxton (1911) reported it 'to have been seen recently in Loughton Parish'. Birds were noted from Theydon Bois in
November, 1915 and January, 1918 (Stubbs, 1919). It was recorded from Warren Wood, Epping on 26th December, 1968 (EBR 1970).
Hobby Falco subbuteo
Apparently always noted as a rare bird in the Epping Forest area (Christy, 1890 and Buxton, 1911). Glegg (1929) reports a male taken in
Epping Forest on 10th June, 1869. An injured bird was found in September, 1979 and taken to Epping Forest Conservation Centre (LBR
1979). Hobbies have bred in west and south-west Essex in recent years. The Essex Bird Report for 1988 notes a concentration of records
from this area and central Essex. A pair were seen in Wanstead Parkin late May and early June in 1991.
Peregrine Falco peregrinus
'A pair of these birds were killed some years ago on the Copped Hall Estate' (Buxton, 1911).
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
'A good many pairs, both of the gray and red-legged kinds bred on the more open parts of the forest' (Buxton, 1911). A covey was seen
near the Wake Arms in June, 1919 north of the Theydon Road (LN 1924 and 1933). They are said to be well established in parts of Epping
Forest (LBR 1952). A pair bred just outside the boundary of the Forest in the City of London Cemetery in 1977 (Wren, 1977). A single bird
was killed by a dog in Wanstead Park in 1979 (Wren, 1979),
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix
A rare visitor to the Forest. The London Naturalist of 1923 reported it as a 'straggler to the Forest, may breed occasionally'. It was reported
from Yardley Hill in 1919 and 1920 (Trans. LNHS, 1919 and 1920) and from Almshouse Plain and Long Hills in 1921 (LN 1921).
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
There are a number of records of this species from Epping Forest. It may occasionally breed, but I have no definite records. Buxton (1911)
notes a number of wild-bred Pheasants as occurring in the Forest. The London Naturalist for 1921 records Pheasant from Round Thicket,
Long Hills (5) and Warren Plain, and that for 1920 records it from Pear Tree Plain and Hill Wood. Montier (1977) regarded it as a probable
breeding species in Epping Forest. It is more usually recorded on the margins of the aon-urbaniaed northern half of Epping Forest
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Occasionally met with in the soft, low-lying part of the Forest (Buxton, 1911). In south-west Essex most records (including the occasional
possible breeding record) now come from the river valleys (Lee and Roding). It was recorded from the Wanstead area in 1975 (Wren,
1975). Single birds were seen in Wanstead Park by the Perch Pond in March and November, 1990.
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Glegg (1929) reports an incompletely dated record for Epping Forest (probably referring to one seen at Birch hall. Theydon Bois on 19th
November, 1916 by F. J. Stubbs, EN XIX p.98).
Corncrake Crex crex
This bird was not uncommon in Essex up to 1860. Since then there has been a steady decline. Nesting was reported at Theydon Bois
(outside the Forest) in 1917 and also possible nesting near Chigwell (LNHS, 1964). One was noted at Epping Long Green (LBR 1947) and
on Almshouse Plain on 3rd June, 1968 (EBR 1968).
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Widespread, and found on even the smallest ponds throughout the Forest. A survey on 3rd February, 1980 revealed a minimum of 63
moorhens in southern Epping Forest. About 20 pairs were later thought to be nesting (Wren. 1980).
Coot Fulica atra
A common winter visitor and regular breeding species. Buxton (1911) reported it as breeding in Wanstead Park, but declining in numbers.
The London Naturalist of 1923 reported it as a scarce winter visitor with one nesting record from the Wake Valley pond. Now it is a
common winter visitor and regular breeding species in various places throughout the Forest. About 200 birds were reported from southern
Epping Forest ponds in February, 1980 with between 70 and 80 breeding pairs that year (Wren, 1980). It has also bred on the Warren Pond
and Connaught Water.
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Rare vagrant. In the winter of 1886-7 one frequented the large open sheet of water in Wanstead Park for several days (Christy, 1890). A
singleton was seen flying over the Forest on 23rd July, 1977 (EBR 1977).
Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Buxton (1911) reported seeing this bird on 21st April, 1883 on one of the open 'plains' in the Fairmead thicket and a young bird of this
species was captured on the borders of the Lower Forest. One was also recorded from Chingford Plain (LNHS, 1964).
Dotterel Charadrius morinellus
Only known from two 19th century records. Fourteen were recorded at Forest Gate after gales on 14th August, 1871 (Christy, 1890) and
two were shot on Wanstead Flats about 1885 (Glegg, 1929).
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Buxton (1911) recorded this species as not uncommon in winter. A flock of more than a hundred frequented Wanstead Park and the
adjoining field in company with Lapwings and Fieldfares in March, 1883. Three to four hundred were seen in the fields opposite the Lower
Forest on 22nd December, 1934 (Mr. McKenzie-Smith, pers. comm.). Twenty were seen flying over the Forest at High Beach in January,
1936 (Mr. McKenzie-Smith, pers. comm.). One was seen over Wanstead Flats on 23rd November, 1983.
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Buxton (1911) recorded this species 'by the Roding in late autumn' probably outside the Forest. It was also recorded from Forest Gate in
1871 (Christy, 1890). Four were seen at Copped Hall in April 1990 (EBR 1990).
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Seen flying over the Forest throughout the year, mainly in the winter months. Not often seen in the Forest, but they have been seen on
Chingford Plain, Wanstead Flats and in Wanstead Park. In the 1860s Lapwings bred on Fairmead and near the Wake Arms (Buxton, 1911).
They are often seen in numbers on fields outside the Forest. About 2,000 were seen in a flock opposite Thornwood on 22nd December,
1934 (McKenzie-Smith, pers. comm.).
Little Stint Calidris minuta
'Has at least once been procured near Epping' (Buxton, 1911).
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