THE BIRDS OF EPPING FOREST
39
Redwing (Turdus musicus, L.).—A winter visitor. The appearance
of this species is controlled by the food supply, and consequently its
movements are very uneven. For example, 1922 was a notoriously
good fruit year and redwings were strikingly numerous. On the other
hand 1923 was as bad a fruit year as 1922 was good, and redwings
were almost entirely absent.
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris, L.).—A winter visitor, but much less
numerous than the redwing. The remarks on the movements of the
redwing also apply to the fieldfare.
Blackbird (Turdus m. merula, L.).—A common resident. Numbers
very much increased in winter.
Redstart (Phoenicurus p. phoenicurus, L.).—A common summer
visitor. The many nesting-holes provided by the pollard trees are
probably the reason of the prevalence of this species in the Forest.
Average date of arrival April 17th.
British Redbreast (Erithacus rubecula melophilus, Hart.).—An
abundant resident.
Common Nightingale (Luscinia m. megarhyncha, G. L. Brehm).—
A common summer visitor. If the volume of song can be taken as a
guide, the numbers of this species vary from year to year. Average
date of arrival April 22nd.
British Stonechat (Saxicola torquata hibernans, Hart.).—Recorded
twice. Nested in 1921, and 2 ♂ s and 1 ♀ recorded from Fairmead
Bottom, on September 29th, 1923.
Whinchat (Saxicola r. rubetra, L.).—A scarce spring and autumn
bird of passage.
Wheatear (Oenanthe o. oenanthe, L.).—A scarce spring and autumn
bird of passage.
British Hedge-Sparrow (Prunella modularis occidentalis, Hart.).—
A common resident.
Wren (Troglodytes t. troglodytes, L.).— An abundant resident.
Swallow (Hirundo r. rustica, L.).—A summer visitor, not too com-
mon, but more so at time of autumn migration. Average date of
arrival April 20th.
Martin (Delichon u. urbica, L.).—As swallow. Average date of
arrival May 3rd.
Sand-Martin (Ripania r. riparia, L),—An occasional bird may be
seen during the summer.
British Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates major anglicus,
Hart.).—A common resident, probably increasing. The prevalence of
this handsome species is a feature of the Forest.
British Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor comminutus,
Hart.).—A well represented resident, although less numerous than the
great spotted.
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis virescens, G. L. Brehm.).—A
common resident, more partial to the open spaces than the other two
woodpeckers.
Wryneck (Jynx t. torquilla, L.). —Only records two occurrences at
end of April, 1918.