Epping Forest area. A juvenile bird was noted in Epping Forest in July, 1978 (LBR 1978). Single reeling birds were reported from Fairmead
and Chingford Plain in 1985.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
A summer visitor which is rather rarely reported in Epping Forest. Buxton (1911) noted it from Wanstead Park. Dixon (1909) reports it as
breeding at Wanstead. It was recorded at Hatch Grove, Chingford in 1934 (LBR 1934) - this site is very near the Ching Brook. There are a
few recent records from Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats (Alexandra Pond) (Wren, 1977, 1979 and 1982-3).
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Another uncommon, generally non-breeding visitor. Buxton (1911) reported this species as breeding at Knighton, but knew it as a rare
species locally. There are few other records. It was recorded from the Forest in 1920 (LN 1923). A Mr. H. C. Playne spent an hour listening
to a Reed Warbler singing from a bush between Connaught Water and the High Road (Trans. LNHS, 1920). A very few birds have been
reported from Wanstead Sewage Farm (Wren, 1977 and 1980).
Icterine/Melodious Warbler Hippolais sp.
Seen near Connaught Water on 25th April, 1948 (LNHS, 1964), (Probably Icterine)
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
A regularly reported summer visitor, but fluctuating in numbers. Buxton (1911) noted it as an inhabitant of gardens, presumably the larger
open gardens. The London Naturalist of 1923 reported it as a fairly common summer visitor. Mr. McKenzie-Smith (pers. comm.) noted it
from Fairmead (1933) and Whitehall Plain (1934). Four pairs were noted in the Forest in 1962. Two pairs nested in Wanstead Park in 1980
and a possible third in Gilbert Slade (Wren, 1980). It has also been seen in scrub near North Farm.
Whitethroat Sylvia communis
Records of this species are more frequent than the Lesser Whitethroat, although judging from earlier accounts, for example Buxton (1911)
'in every hedge in spring and summer', it was once much more common. 1 have records (including presumed breeding) from Chingford
Plain, North Farm, Fairmead and Yardley Hill in the north part of the Forest. Several pairs nested in Wanstead Park and Gilbert Slade in the
southern Forest in 1980 (Wren, 1980). It has been noted on autumn passage from Wanstead Flats.
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
Buxton (1911) noted this species in 'forest copses and Wanstead Park'. The London Naturalist of 1921 reported it as a 'common summer
visitor'. Montier (1977) shows a number of suspected breeding records for the Epping Forest area. Probable nesting was noted in Lords
Bushes in 1980, as it was in Wanstead Park in 1977. Five singing males were noted in the Wake Arms area in 1984 (EBR 1984).
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
A widespread and common summer visitor and a regular breeding species. 1984 produced 10 singing males in the Wake Arms area and 12
in Wanstead park alone (EBR 1984).
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Epping Forest has for long been the stronghold of this species in Essex. Twenty-four singing males in the Forest in 1943 is an exceptional
record for this species. Henry Doubleday (Christy, 1890) and Buxton (1911) both knew this species from the Forest. Records have come
from particularly High Beach and also Almshouse Plain, Monk Wood, Wake Arms and Warren Wood. Mr. McKenzie-Smith reported it from
Lords Bushes in 1934 and it was reported from Wanstead in 1977 (EBR 1977). In recent years only a very few male birds have been
reported singing in Epping Forest, a maximum of 2 or 3 birds being noted.
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Another common summer visitor to the Forest, recorded throughout and a common breeding species. Over-wintering birds have been noted
occasionally.
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
A common summer visitor, recorded and presumably breeding, throughout the Forest. Twenty males reported from the Long Running area
of Epping Forest alone in 1983 (EBR 1983).
Warblers
August 1980 was notable for massive 'falls' of migrating warblers in the Wanstead Park area. The following numbers were reported (Wren,
1980).
Lesser Whitethroat: possibly as many as 200.
Whitethroat: at least 120
Blackcap: at least 300
Garden Warbler: around 50 birds
Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff around 100 birds
Reed Warbler: only two positive identifications, but possibly about 10 birds were involved.
Goldcrest Regulus regulus
This small warbler is present throughout the year in Epping Forest in small numbers, perhaps more frequently noted in winter. Often seen in
the company of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits on winter foraging flocks. Eighty were reported from Wintry Wood, Epping on 30th
October, 1988 (EBR 1988). Another large flock of 25 were seen here in 1984 (EBR 1984). It has bred in the Forest.
Firecrest Regulus ignicapilius
This close relative of the Goldcrest is only rather irregularly reported from Epping Forest. It was recorded from Long Hills in March, 1928
(LNHS, 1928), near Connaught Water in 1947 (LBR 1947) and two birds were reported from Long Wood, Wanstead Flats in 1980 (Wren,
1980). Breeding was finally confirmed in Essex only in 1980 at a locality in south-west Essex. Since then birds have been reported from the
Forest in 1984 (EBR 1984) and from Wintry Wood in 1988 (EBR 1988).
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
A regularly breeding and common summer visitor recorded throughout the Forest. Published records indicate that it has always been at least
fairly common. Nine to ten pairs were recorded in the Long Running area in 1980 (EBR 1980). Twenty pairs were reported between
Theydon Bois and Connaught Water in 1988 (EBR 1988).
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula purva
There is a single record of this rare vagrant from Wanstead Park on 4th September, 1968 (EBR 1968).
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
An irregularly recorded, but not infrequent, passage migrant. Doubleday knew this species from Epping (Christy, 1890). Buxton (1911) reported a
Pied Flycatcher being caught by a bird catcher in the Forest in 1877. Two others were shot in Theydon Grove and were located in the Doubleday
Collection (Buxton, 1911). Glegg (1929) reports a Pied Flycatcher in the Forest in 1926. There were later records of this species near Hawk Wood
in April, 1943 and in August of that year from near the Royal Forest Hotel. A male was seen on the edge of Hawk Wood where it borders onto
Chingford Plain in April, 1946, A little later three cock birds were seen at the same site (EN XXVIII p.75). Other records from the Forest include
those in 1965 (EBR 1965), 1969 (EBR 1969). Six were recorded in September, 1971 (EBR 1971). One was recorded in April, 1983 in Wanstead
Park and another male at Wanstead in April, 1984. A male was reported from the Forest in May, 1985 (EBR 1985).
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