Page:VCH Essex 1.djvu/276

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

A HISTORY OF ESSEX 1 9. Garden-Warbler. Sylvia hortensis (Bech- stein). As the last named. 20. Dartford Warbler. Sylvia undata (Bod- daert). A resident, but very rare and local. 21. Goldcrest. Regulus cristatus, K. L. Koch. A resident, but nowhere very common. In winter its numbers are increased by im- migration. 22. Firecrest. Regulus ignicapillus (Brehm). A rare visitor, though perhaps often mis- taken for the foregoing. 23. Chiffchaff. Phylloscopus rufus (Bechstein). A regular summer visitor, but decidedly local and nowhere abundant. It is most numerous when on migration in spring and autumn. It is our earliest migrant to arrive, being often heard in March and occasionally early in that month. 24. Willow - Warbler. Phylloscopus trochilus (Linn.). A common summer visitor. 25. Wood - Warbler. Phylloscopus slbilatrtx (Bechstein). A summer visitor, though very local and nowhere common. 26. Reed - Warbler. Acrocephalus streperus (Vieillot). A regular summer visitor, but decidedly local and apparently confined to the coast, or nearly so. [Marsh Warbler. Acrocephalus palustris (Bechstein). Occurs in all probability, but not as yet actually identified, so far as I know.] 27. Sedge- Warbler. Acrocephalus phragmitis (Bechstein). An abundant summer visitor. 28. Grasshopper-Warbler. Locustella narvia (Boddaert). A summer visitor, but decidedly uncommon and seldom heard, except round Danbury and Maldon, where it is fairly common (Fitch). 29. Savi's Warbler. Locustella luscinio'ides (Savi). A rare summer visitor. The only record (Zoologist, 1850, p. 2849) of its occurrence in the county (a nest said to have been taken at Dagenham on May 24, 1850) is somewhat unsatisfactory. 238 30. Hedge - Sparrow. Accentor modularis (Linn.). Locally, Hedge-Betty. An abundant resident. 31. Alpine Accentor. Accentor collarh (Sco- poli). A rare and accidental visitor. The first British and only recorded Essex example was shot at Walthamstow in August 1817 (Birds of Essex ; p. 89). 32. Dipper. Cinclus aquaticus, Bechstein. A rare and accidental visitor. There are about a dozen records of its occurrence in the county. 33. Black-bellied Dipper. Cinclus melano- gaster, Brehm. Most of the occurrences noted under the foregoing species relate, in all probability, to this form, which is probably only sub-specific- ally distinct ; but only one is known to do so (see Biro's of Essex, p. 90). 34. Bearded Tit. Panurus biarmicus (Linn.). Formerly a resident, common in suitable localities, such as the reed-beds round the coast : now extinct, or nearly so, in the county. Probably however it still breeds with us occasionally, as specimens have been seen within recent years (see Birds of Essex, p. 92). One was found dead near Harwich on March 30, 1895 (Essex Nat. ix. 52), and Dr. Salter watched one for some time at Goldhanger, on April 21, 1896, when it was probably breeding. 35. British Long-tailed Tit. Acredula rosea (Blyth). Locally, Bottle-Tit, Oven-builder, etc. A fairly common resident, but apparently decreasing, probably because it builds so large and conspicuous a nest so early in the spring. 36. Great Tit. Parus major, Linn. Locally, Saw-sharpener, etc. A common resident, more abundant or more apparent in winter than in summer. 37. British Coal-Tit. Parus britannicus, Sharpe and Dresser. A resident, but local and nowhere common. 38. British Marsh-Tit. Parus dresseri, Stej- neger. A common resident. 39. Blue Tit. Parus cceruleus, Linn. Locally, Pick-cheese and Bluecap. A very abundant resident.