The Birds at Hylands Park
Birds at Hylands 2000 - 2003
A total of 86 species of bird were recorded at Hylands during the period 2000 - 2003, including
those on the historic list; 92 species at least are known from the park. This figure is obviously a
minimum and many more species could, with little difficulty, be added to the list - I suspect that
eventually Snipe, Common Sandpiper and Sedge Warbler will be added, amongst others. It is not
known how many breeding species are present in the park. I suspect the total is somewhere between
40 and 50; much work could usefully be undertaken in Illis area.
Of the classic parkland species, two tree-hole nesting birds arc frequent at Hylands - the Jackdaw and
Stock Dove. A flock of usually 50 - 70 Jackdaws were noted in late winter in the park foraging in the
grasslands before taking-up nest sites in hollows, particularly in the old oaks. Stock Doves too, several
pairs of which nest in the park, compete with the Jackdaws for nest sites on the old trees.
Little Owl (may have nested in 2003), Treecreeper, Nuthatch. Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted
Woodpecker arc other species that also utilise the old trees as nest sites. Tree Pipits were recorded,
as singing males, in the southern part of the park in 1997 - 2000, but not subsequently. The Tree
Pipit currently has a notably contracting breeding range in Essex and may yet be lost as a summering
species in the park. Other uncommon summer visitors include Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Nightingale
(recorded as a singing male in 2001 in the Writtle Belt), Hobby (probably originating from Writtle
Forest and seen 2001 and 2002), Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. Probably
2-3 pairs of Spotted Flycatchers have nested at Hylands - the formal gardens and Home Farm
seem to attract breeding pairs. Goldcrests also seem to favour the formal gardens and I suspect
have bred here. Common year-round residents and breeding species include Mallard, Moorhen,
Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, Dunnock. Robin, Blackbird. Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Long-
tailed Tit, Great Tit. Blue Tit. Wren. Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch. Starling. Magpie and Crow.
Rooks are also frequently sighted about the park - a rookery with two nests in a tall Ash tree was
started by Writtle car park in 2002 with two nests again occupied in 2003. Also in 2003 a further
rookery was started in the Lower Belt (by the London Road) with five nests, possibly an overspill
from the Rooks that regularly congregate in this vicinity.
Water birds are not that prominent in the Hylands list, but up to 90 Mallard have been counted in
cold winter weather on the Serpentine Lake. Coot, Little Grebe and up to 11 Tufted Duck (6 male
5 female in March 01) are recorded here as well. Coot are also regularly seen on the Swan Pond.
Kingfisher is also reported from here and the River Wid.
Winter visitors to the park include Siskins on Alders, Woodcock (formal gardens, South Wood,
Swan Pond Plantation), Firecrest (formal gardens February 03), Grey Wagtail and small flocks of
Fieldfare and Redwing. Gulls - mainly Common and to a lesser extent Black-headed - are seen on
the fields in winter, sometimes over a hundred being counted.
Roman Walk attracts numbers of finches to its vicinity. 1 have records of Greenfinch. Goldfinch.
Chaffinch and surprisingly often Bullfinches. Yellowhammers are usually also recorded here. The
southern end of Roman Walk attracts numbers of Common Whitethroat.
References:
Christy, R.M. (1890) The Birds of Essex. Essex Field Club.
Cox, S. (1984) A New Guide to the Birds of Essex (EBWPS).
Glegg, W.E. (1929) A History of the Birds of Essex. London.
Essex Parks: Section 2 - Hylands Park
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