Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Buxton (1911) reported great numbers in a roost on the islands in Wanstead Park. They were reported (Trans. LNHS. 1920) from Chingford
Plain, Fairmead Bottom. Hatch Plain, High Beach, Ludgate Plain, Strawberry Hill, Warren Hill, Whitehall Plain and Yardley Hill. 16 being
seen in birches by High Beach church, where this species was reported breeding in 1923. In May, 1979 I noted two birds occupying a hole
in a beech tree at Hill Wood. High Beach, presumably a nesting pair. It is apparently a rather uncommon breeding species. Occasionally
large roosts are seen in winter in areas surrounding the northern part of the Forest.
Rook Conus frugilegus
Buxton (1911) wrote 'The forest is livened by several rookeries by Leyton Flats, Woodford Green and Copped Hall. They have vastly
increased at Wanstead Park, where they breed on the islands'. In 1979-80 I visited the only remaining rookery in Epping Forest, a large
colony of over a 100 nests (probably nearer 120) in the north part of the Lower Forest. In 1898 the huge Rookery at Wanstead was said to
contain 430 nests! Remarkably only four nests were reported at this latter site by 1920 (Trans. LNHS. 1920), There is a small rookery in
Epping Town in Plane trees, about eight nests (1989).
The Rook gives us the first literature record for Epping Forest. One was shot at on the highway at Epping by a Hertfordshire man in 1602
(Elizabethan Life: Disorder, F. G, Emmison, 1970),
Carrion Crow Corvus corone
Resident, present throughout the year, and breeding in many places in the Forest. Flocks of about 50 birds are not uncommon in the
southern Forest, foraging on Wanstead Flats and presumably the same birds roosting in Wanstead Park, on occasions on Rook Island.
Fifty-five birds were noted on Chingford Plain in January, 1949 (LBR 1949). The Hooded Crow, Corvus corone cornix, has been noted on a
few occasions in Epping Forest. Buxton (1911) noted it as an occasional winter visitor. Hoodies were reported from Wanstead Flats in the
harsh winter of 1962-3 (Wren, 1980) and on Fairmead Bottom in November, 1919 (EN XIX p.104).
Raven Conus corax
A pair bred in the Wanstead Park Heronry about 1833 or 1834 (Buxton, 1911).
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Seen throughout the Forest at all times of the year and a not uncommon breeding species. Pre-roost gatherings of 1,000 birds have been
reported on Lincoln Island, Wanstead Park (Wren, 1980).
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Abundant in the urban areas around the Forest, often visiting the Forest but probably not a frequent breeding bird in the Forest itself.
Wallace (1971) reported a flock of at least 200 roosting in thickets by Chingford Plain.
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Breeds at low density throughout Epping Forest (Montier, 1977 and Wren, 1980), About 30 pairs bred in the Forest in 1968 (EBR 1968). In
winter often seen about Connaught Water and Warren Pond.
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
A common resident. Buxton (1911) also reported it to be common. It is particularly frequent in winter feeding under Hornbeam and Beech
trees, often in association with other finches. Some of the highest recorded breeding densities have been reported from Chingford Woods,
Epping Forest (Cox, 1984).
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
An irregular winter visitor. Around a hundred birds were noted in the Forest in February, 1967 (EBR 1967). Fifty were noted at Long Hills
in April, 1981 (EBR 1981). In Lords Bushes in February, 1980. I saw 15 or so birds, one male being in breeding plumage; the rest in winter
plumage. When it occurs it is usually found in the vicinity of Beech trees in the northern parts of the Forest.
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
A common resident in the Forest. Numbers are augmented in winter by birds on passage. In winter some numbers obviously pass through
the Forest area: 2.000+ were ringed in an Epping garden in March- May, 1981. A roost of 200 birds was reported on an island in the
Hollow Ponds in 1980 (Wren. 1980).
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
A resident, but also noted as a passage bird. The London Naturalist of 1923 recorded this species as a 'regular, but scarce winter visitor'. It
has obviously increased since then. In 1980 it was reported as the commonest finch in southern Epping Forest (Wren, 1980), including 50
nests in the vicinity of Wanstead Park and Wanstead Sewage Works, I saw a charm of 60-70 birds feeding on a creeping thistle patch in a
field adjacent to North Farm in August, 1978.
Siskin Carduelis spinus
Known mainly as an irregular winter visitor; it may have bred in the Epping Forest area. Two adults were seen with a close-following
juvenile in Warren Wood, Epping Forest on 5th August, 1969 (Cox, 1984). Otherwise known mainly on Alders from Wanstead Park,
Highams Park and the Alder Pond Fairmead. One hundred and fifty were noted at High Beach in 1976 (EBR 1976) and 70 were recorded
here in the previous year (EBR 1975). It has been recorded in influx years in local gardens.
Linnet Carduelis cannabina
Uncommon as a breeding bird in the Epping Forest area. Larger numbers are reported in winter flocks. 1 counted a flock of 68 in a tree on
Roebuck Green, Buckhurst Hill in January, 1979. Three hundred were reported in a roost on an island in the Hollow Ponds in January, 1980
(Wren, 1980). This bird is a secretive breeder and this may contribute to the paucity of recorded nesting in Epping Forest,
Twite Carduelis flavirostris
Edward Doubleday recorded this species from the Epping area in the early 19th century (Christy, 1890).
Redpoll Carduelis flammea
Buxton (1911) reported this species from Loughton Forest and Wanstead often seen feeding from Silver Birches. Glegg (1929) knew of
only 15 Essex breeding records, eight of them being from Epping Forest. Since the 1960s there has been a great expansion of this species in
Essex, Twenty to twenty-five pairs bred, or were suspected breeding in the Forest in the years 1963-6 in Epping Forest and flocks of 2-300
were recorded in the winters of 1961-2, 1962-3 and 1963-4. Five hundred were reported in the Forest in March. 1976 (LBR 1976). Fifteen
pairs were noted in the Long Running area in 1980 and 1981 (EBR 1980 and 1981). Two hundred plus were noted in the Forest in the
winter of 1984 (EBR 1984). About 10 pairs were reported in the north part of the Forest in 1988 (EBR 1988). Nests have occasionally been
found in the southern Forest (Wren, 1977 and 1979).
Mealy Redpoll Carduelis flammea flammea
'This pretty species only appears at long intervals, and, like the Crossbills, in considerable numbers, probably in quest of food' (Buxton,
1911). A party of 27 were reported in Epping Forest on 18th January, 1972.
Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera
Shot by Henry Doubleday in his garden at Epping about 1846 (Christy, 1890).
173