Review of the Wildlife of Epping Forest in 2000
1991 to 21 adults (plus this latest one) and one larva in the last ten years (Goodey 1999).
Bees, Ants & Wasps
The outstanding find of the last few years was the solitary bee Andrena cineraria found by Amanda
Samuels and confirmed in 2000 by Peter Harvey (sec Samuels & Harvey 2001).
Flies
This group is the subject of its own paper this year (Ismay 2001) following the culmination of 3
years fieldwork and much trapping. There are now at least 1,586 species of fly on the Forest, more
species than for the better-studied beetles (Coleoptera) and 24% of the UK list of 6,702.
The Forest is exceptional for both Craneflies (Tipulidae) and Hoverflies (Syrphidae). In 1999 it was
a crane fly, the spectacular Ctenophora flaveolata that was the highlight of the year. In 2000 it was
undoubtedly the hoverfly Pocota personata. Having visited the sap run before in the hope of catching
this species, to be able to see it arrive and hover in front of the old Beech pollard like a long-legged
bumblebee, so clearly identifiable and distinct, will remain an indelible image in this observer's
memory.
There was some disappointment though with the Ctenophora larvae collected from a Beech rot-
hole in early 2000 and described in last year's Epping Forest Review (see Essex Naturalist 17).
When they hatched out both proved to be C. pectinicornis. So the hunt for C. flaveolata larvae goes
on.
Reptiles & Amphibians
It was a quiet year for records for these species as no specific survey work was undertaken. However,
Adders Vipera berus were sighted in a number of new places deep within the wooded areas of the
Forest. More work is being earned out in 2001 to understand better their breeding distribution in the
Forest.
Birds
Bird-life in the Forest is not what it was (see Hoy 2001) and there are still species giving cause for
concern. After a good year in 1999 both Marsh Tits Parus palustris and Lesser Spotted
Woodpeckers Dendrocopus minor seem to be in reduced numbers over the last year. A special
survey will be carried out in March 2002 to try to ascertain the density of both species.
The picture for Hawfinches Coccothraustes coccothraustes remains gloomy. Again there was activity
recorded at Ludgate Plain (TQ397961) but this provided the only record of this species despite
several bird-watchers spending time looking for them. This is in stark contrast to their abundance in
the 1940s as recalled by Ken Hoy (ibid).
However, some exceptional species are doing well. Firecrests Regulus ignicapilius bred again at
The Warren Plantation and Barn Owls Tyto alba were again seen on the west side of the Forest. The
Kingfishers Alcedo atthis of Wanstead Park raised a number of broods but not before one sitting
female had been killed by a malicious vandal sealing her into her nest-hole with a beer-can.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)
57