Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
Well recorded throughout the Forest, presumably a not infrequent breeding species, often seen in winter flocks with other species of Tits. A
mixed flock of 200 were recorded at Piercing Hill, Theydon Bois in 1984 (EBR 1985), 90% being this species.
Marsh Tit Pants palustris
Willow TH Parus montanus
These two closely related species have both been reported from Epping Forest and both have been noted as breeding species. Epping Forest
is a favoured locality for the Willow Tit (Hudson and Pyman. 1968), but Montier (1977) considered the Marsh Tit to be the more frequent
of the two species. Four pairs of Marsh Tit were noted in the Long Running area of Epping Forest in 1983 (EBR 1983). Willow Tits have
heen reported from Wanstead Park (Wren, 1977).
Coal Tit Parus ater
This species is apparently of more frequent occurrence than the previous two species. It is not uncommon in the wooded parts of the Forest
and is also regularly recorded as a garden bird in the area. Breeding is widespread in the Forest. The continental race ater has been recorded.
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus
A familiar sight in Epping Forest, perhaps more commonly seen in adjacent gardens. A regular breeding species. One hundred and thirty
nests of this species were recorded in the southern Epping Forest area in 1980 (Wren. 1980).
Great Tit Parus major
Regularly recorded in the Forest and a common breeding species in the Epping Forest area.
Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Epping Forest is the stronghold for this species in Essex. Sample densities in CBC plots suggest a population of 150-200 pairs in the whole
area (Cox, 1984). This bird is known throughout the Forest but is more frequent in the heavily wooded parts of the Forest. Four pairs were
reported in the Long Running area in 1980 and six pairs in the High Beach area in 1981 (EBR 1982). Four nests were reported from
southern Epping Forest in 1979, including one in Wanstead Park (Wren, 1979),
Treecreeper Certhia familiaris
Well established resident and a regular breeding species throughout the wooded parts of the Forest.
Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla
Recorded on 26th May, 1975 at High Beach, then a recent addition to the British List and The only record from Essex (EBR 1976).
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
This species with its brilliantly plumaged male has, in recent years, been increasingly recorded in Essex and breeding has been reported in
the county. Records for the Epping Forest area date back to the mid-19th century. A female was shot at Leyton in 1850 (Cox, 1984). Glegg
(1929) records this species as being found in Epping Forest in 1905. Leutscher (1974) noted this species at High Beach in 1942. A male was
seen and heard in Epping Forest in May, 1968 (EBR 1968) and another male heard in the Forest in June, 1975. A pair was seen in the
Hawkwood/Yardley Hill area in October, 1976 (I. Buchan). A male was seen near Forest School, Snaresbrook in April, 1977 and a female
here in April, 1978 (Wren, 1978). Golden Orioles favour breeding in poplar plantations in East Anglia,
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Henry Doubleday, writing in 1831, regarded this species as being very common in Epping Forest. Buxton (1911) described it as 'one of the
handsomest of our spring visitors. The broods keep together well into the summer. They breed in the neighbourhood, frequently, if not
every year. A pair built near Debden Green in 1895.' It was recorded from the following locations in Epping Forest, from information
gathered from the Transactions of the London Natural History Society, the London Naturalist, London Bird Report, Essex Naturalist (Vol.
XXIII, p. 76), the diaries of Mr. McKenzie-Smith and the Wren report for 1980.
1917 Ludgate Plain
1918 Hale End, Debden Slade
1919 Fairmead, Whitehall Plain. Almshouse Plain
1920 Old Church Plain, Warren Hill (nested), Strawberry Hill (pair).
Fairmead (pair with two young)
1920-29 Nested regularly on Yardley Hill
1921 Eight nests in the Warren Hill area including Fairmead
1923 A not uncommon summer visitor
1931 At least ten families noted in the Forest area centred on
Connaught Water
1933 By Connaught Water
1934 Baldwins Hill, Fairmead, Chingford Plain, Goldings Hill, Hawkwood
(families noted on either side of Hawkwood) and Whitehall Plain
1945 Seventeen pairs in Epping Forest
1965-66 One pair in the Sewardstone Area (not Epping Forest)
1967 No further breeding records in the Epping Forest area
1980 A juvenile was ringed at Wanstead Sewage Farm on 1st November.
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor
Scarce winter visitor to the Forest. Henry Doubleday, writing in 1831, reported he had not seen more than one in Epping Forest (Christy,
1890). Later he kept an individual of this species in captivity (Buxton, 1911). One was seen in the Forest in May, 1916; another was seen in
December, 1919 (and presumably the same bird in January, 1920 on Fairmead Bottom flying off into the grounds of the Warren (EN XIX
p. 142). Presumably the same bird was noted on Fairmead bottom and near Strawberry Hill Pond in March and April (Trans. LNHS. 1920).
The next records I know of arc in January. 1966 (EBR 1966), in March-April, 1967 on Almshouse Plain (EBR 1967), Wake Valley on 30th
November, 1975 (EBR 1975), Sewardstone (probably outside the Forest) in January, 1976 (EBR 1976) and a female was ringed at
Wanstead Sewage Farm on 22nd October, 1977 (Wren, 1977).
Jay Garrulus glandarius
Resident and a common breeding species found throughout the Forest. This bird was subjected to organised shoots in the 19th century.
Magpie Pica pica
At the end of the 19th century this species had become very uncommon. Two or three pairs known to Buxton (1911) were receiving 'special
protection'. It was described as a rare visitor (LN 1923) and they were a notable sight up to the 1940s. Since then there has been a dramatic
increase in this species. It is found commonly throughout the Forest and is a well-known raider of suburban gardens for nestlings. 1 have
seen ' Magpie Parliaments' on occasion the largest being 28 gathered together on the crown of an Oak tree by Whitehall Plain.
Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes
Two obtained near Epping, 27th October and 5th November, 1900 (Hudson and Pyman. 1968) are the only records.
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