Sunshine Plain are two favoured areas. They have also been reported from Fairmead, Chingford Plain, Lords Bushes and Wanstead Park.
Epping Forest is the stronghold of this declining species in Essex.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Known mainly as a winter visitor as it was in Buxton's day. 'Its quickly repeated note ... cheers the sadness of our flats in winter.' In winter
it has been noted from Chingford Plain, Fairmead, Roebuck Green, Whitehall Plain, Leyton and Wanstead Flats. 1 saw a dozen birds on
Whitehall Plain on 1st March, 1980. Glegg (1929) reported it breeding in the Forest in 1907 and 1925. Five pairs were reported breeding in
the southern part of Epping Forest in 1977 (Wren, 1977).
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
A rather irregular passage bird, mainly recorded in the south of the Forest. Buxton (1911) regarded this species as formerly frequent in
summer but becoming scarce. It may have been not uncommon, but there are rather few reports of its occurrence in the Forest in the 20th
century. A singleton was reported in 1920 for the Forest (LN 1923). A pair were seen at Snaresbrook in 1923 (LN 1924). More recently
records have come from Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park (Wren, 1977). Two birds by the Alexandra Lake in April, 1977, showed
characteristics of the Blue-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava flava) (Wren. 1977). A total of 18 passage birds was reported, mainly from
Wanstead Flats, in 1980 (Wren, 1980).
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Not uncommonly recorded as a winter visitor, but it is also a rare breeding species. Winter records are known from Earl's Path Pond.
Staples Road Pond (records for both the old and the new reservoir), Lower Forest, Eagle Pond and Wanstead Park (several of the ponds). A
pair nested in Wanstead Park in 1975 and may have bred in 1977 (Wren, 1977 and 1980).
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba
Present in small numbers at various ponds throughout the Forest and has bred. Occasionally larger congregations are reported at winter
roost sites. Motacilla alba alba, the White Wagtail, has been reported twice (LN 1923 and Wren, 1979).
Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
An irregular winter visitor, Christy (1890) reported three from Wanstead Park in January, 1883. There have been other reports from the
urban areas surrounding the Forest 1947-7 (Leutscher, 1974), Buckhurst Hill (EBR 1960), Chingford (LBR 1947). Five were seen near
Connaught Water on 26th November, 1988 (EBR 1988). Two were reported in the Forest on 15th January, 1989 (EBR 1989).
Dipper Cinclus cinclus
Recorded by Highams Park Lake on 18th September, 1908 by T E. Legg (LNHS, 1928). This record is not admitted by Cox (1984).
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Well reported throughout the Forest. It appears always to have been a numerous breeding species.
Dunnock Prunella modularis
Well reported throughout the Forest and another common breeding species.
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris
A single bird shot in a garden bordering Epping Forest whilst feeding with chaffinches is the only record. It was shot by Mr. James Pamplin
of Walthamstow in 1817 and identified by Mr. Gould.
Robin Erithacus rubecula
A common resident throughout Epping Forest and a widespread and regular breeding species. It always appears to have been a common
species.
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
Atone time a common species, now rather Jess frequently encountered in Epping Forest. Christy (1890) wrote 'a common summer visitor,
especially abundant, I think, in the Epping Forest district.' In 1920 the Transactions of the LNHS recorded it from Almshouse Plain,
Chingford Plain and Wood, Connaught Water, Fairmead. Grimston's Oak, High Beach, Hill Wood, Long Hills, Ludgate Plain, Mount
Pleasant, Old Church Plain, Strawberry Hill Pond, Warren and Whitehall Plains and Yardley Hill. Mr. McKenzie-Smith (pers. comm.) heard
nightingales near Goldings Hill Pond (1932), Whitehall Plain (1934) and Theydon Bois Golf Course (1937). Gillingham (1953) reported
this species from Rangers Road, Buckhurst Hill, Epping New Road and near the Warren. A decrease in numbers became apparent in the
1960s in the Forest (Hudson and Pyman, 1968). None were reported from the Forest in 1976 (EBR 1976) compared with 29 in 1961 (Cox,
1984). Since then numbers have picked up: 1983 produced four singing males (EBR 1983) including one at Woodford Green. Ten pairs
were reported in 1985 (EBR 1985). Connaught Water remains a favoured locality. I heard four males here in May, 1986. Other recent
locations include Buttonseed Corner, Whitehouse Plain, Fairmead Bottom and near the Robin Hood.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
One was seen at Woodford in March, 1907 by Mr. H. C. Playne (Glegg, 1929). Another was noted on Roding Valley Station in October,
1968 and present for a week (EBR 1968).
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Regularly recorded from the Forest but in greatly fluctuating numbers. Henry Doubleday, writing in 1832 'the Redstart has arrived this year
in immense numbers. I never saw half so many before' and a little later 'the forest literally swarms with them' (Christy, 1890). Buxton
(1911) wrote of this bird 'frequent in summer, and a great ornament to our Forest'. By 1929, however, Glegg reported the Redstart to be
declining, and in recent years numbers recorded in the Forest reflect this steady decline.
Redstart pairs and singing males located in Epping Forest, 1963-1989:
63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89
56 14 11 6 8 10 7+ 17 8 14 1+ 5 6 8 3 6 3 4 4 3 2 2 2-3 14 6 4
Records in the past have come from throughout the Forest: Connaught Water (EBR 1967), Bury Wood and Hawkwood (EN XXIII p.78),
High Beach (1968). Ludgate Plain and Highams Park (Trans, LNHS. 1920) and Wanstead Park (Wren, 1979). The most favoured and best
known traditional sites are near the Wake Valley Pond, near the Wake Arms and Monk Wood. Birds have been seen at these sites in recent
years, and Mr. McKenzie-Smith recorded them here in the 1930s (pers, comm). Other regular sites are Long Running and Jacks Hill. Six
pairs in Epping Forest in 1988 (EBR 1988) were found in areas opened up by 1987 storm damage.
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
Now only rarely seen on passage. At one time it was a regular breeding species. Christy (1890) reports Doubleday as regarding it as
numerous in the Forest in 1831 but it was apparently becoming scarce by 1843. Buxton (1911) regarded it still as a breeding species. Apair
were found on Fairmead in September, 1921 (LN 1921) and a pair bred here in 1925 (a nest and six eggs). There are recent records from
southern Epping Forest, notably Wanstead Flats, of birds on passage.
Stonechat Saxicola torquata
Doubleday writing in 1831 '... used to abound on the furze bushes by the sides of the forest, but, what is very singular, it has within the last
three years totally disappeared'. Buxton (1911) recorded it as a breeding species on the open forest; a few remaining throughout the year. It
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