Some observations on changes in the wildlife of Epping Forest since 1939
Species on the up
There are some changes, however, that are not so depressing. Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis,
Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea, Goldcrests Regulus regulus and Lesser Redpolls Carduelis flammea
were only winter visitors in the 1940s, and Siskins C. spinus were quite uncommon winter visitors.
It was worth cycling a long way if there was a chance of seeing them feeding with Goldfinches C.
carduelis, wherever there might be Alders.
The Hobby Falco subbuteo, relatively frequent now, occurred then in only one secret location in
central southern England and whereas several pairs of Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus nested in the
Forest in the 1940s, by the 60s, they had disappeared completely. Now, of course, they are back
breeding in the Forest. The Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata now breeds in the Forest (possibly 20
pairs) and the winter population at Connaught Water is often more than 40.
Summers of Shrikes - paradise lost
Nonetheless, it is the losses to which one returns time and time again and now, I suppose, it is my
notes about Red Backed Shrikes Lanios collurio that make the most startling reading.
It was one thrill ing summer evening in '39 on Woodford Golf Course that I found and watched my
'first' pair of Shrikes. Then in 1941 I recorded eleven pairs of Shrikes nesting within a one-mile
radius of Connaught Water. There were four pairs nesting in Fairmead Bottom (TQ411965) alone!
Then the area was dotted with small, browsed hawthorn bushes - the nest in one and the 'larder' in
another nearby. I ringed all four broods in Fairmead that year.
However, whilst ringing the last family, who were older than I realised, some scattered when I
replaced them in the nest. I recaptured all but one, and after covering them with a handkerchief they
settled down. That remaining one unfortunately appeared to be injured. I took it back to the house of
fellow bird watchers Alan and Keith Mitchell.
During the following days we spent hours catching grasshoppers on Woodford Golf Course
(TQ396927) to feed the youngster. It had been suffering from 'shock' and had recovered quickly
but we decided it must be released early in the day to stand the best chance of being accepted into the
family - because of available time and school work, this meant the following weekend. During four
feeding sessions per day it averaged 90 grasshoppers each day for six days. It regularly produced
pink pellets about the size of an elongated cherry stone.
Our dedicated efforts say something about the grasshopper population then. It did well on the rather
unnatural (but easy to provide) diet and was duly released and accepted readily by the parents. I had
colour ringed it and thus was able to identify it several days later with the family party.
The 'larders' of each cock bird were easy to find merely by watching for a while. Once, the male
of one brood flew a 100m and 50m up to catch a passing bee. He impaled it on the larder bush and
then proceeded to pull to pieces a fledgling Chiffchaff that he had impaled earlier. My notes tell me
that on another larder on Chingford Plain I found a Pale Shouldered Brocade moth Lacanobia
thalassina, impaled and still alive, also several bees, a small frog and a small nestling bird
(unidentifiable).
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)
J19