i84 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



neighbourhood was one just over the arm of the Colne Estuary at Brisfhtlingsea. 

 * * * It is a most secluded spot, on the Wyvenhoe side of the Twenty-seven 

 Acre Grove, on Mr. Bateman's estate, known as Heronry Wood, a little more than 

 a quarter of a mile west of Brightlingsea Church. Mark Gooch, the old keeper, 

 told us that formerly the Heronry certainly contained over lOO nests, but that 

 forty-three or forty-four vears ago the largest trees were felled, and this seriously 

 diminished the number of Herons." 



Then the Rooks came and robbed the eggs, while more trees were felled, and 

 an unruly tenant used to shoot the birds on their nests (much to the anno3'ance 

 of Mr. Bateman), till "in 1870, there were about thirty nests * * * ; in 1871, 

 there were only fifteen or eighteen ; and the'Herons finally deserted the spot in 

 1872," the majority probably going to Birch, though a few established themselves 

 at St. Osyth. Since 1872, Mr. Bateman jhas done all in his power to encourage 

 the Herons to return, but has so far been frustrated by the Rooks. The few 

 which migrated to St. Osyth established themselves in Nunn's Wood, where they 

 still flourish under the protection of Sir John H. Johnson, who writes to Mr. 

 Fitch as follows : " Five or six 3^ears ago, a solitary pair came and built on a tree 

 on an island in one of my ponds. Then one or two more pairs came and built on 

 another tree, and two years ago a pair built on a low tree in my little wood closely 

 adjoining." In 1877, there were five nests, and Mr. Fitch tells me there are now 

 two small colonies at St. Osyth. 



There can be no doubt that there have formerly been various other Heronries, 

 noAV extinct, in our county. Thus, quaint old Norden speaks of " Towleshunt 

 Darcye : .nere Wch is a fayre Heronry." Morant, in his History of Essex (1768 

 i. p. 78), saj'S of Belhus, Aveley : — 



" Here was formerly a Heronry, which being a thing not commonly to be met 

 with, was esteemed a circumstance of no small consequence, while the diversion 

 of Hawking was in fashion ; but of late years not thought to balance the incon- 

 veniences attending it, and the Herons therefore are not suffered to build longer." 



Morant (i. p. 208) also says : " The Manor of Heron or Heme [whence Heron- 

 Gate], East Horndon, seems originally to have taken its name from a Heronry 

 here." Mr. J.'F. T. Wiseman, of Paglesham, informs me that, about'the year 1882, 

 there was a nest in his wood at Barton Hall. Mr. A. Smee says (J/y Garden, 

 P- 530)1 " I have seen a nest at Chigwell in Essex " — doubtless an offshoot from 

 the Heronry at Wanstead. Mr. Fitch says (50. i. 142) : — 



There is a disused Heronry at Walton's Hall, Mucking. * * * It stands on 

 the edge of the marshes south of the railway leading from Stanford-le-Hope to 

 Tilbury, about half a mile from the Thames, The trees are oak and ash, with a 

 few elms. Mr. William Clark, jun., who has been tenant of Walton's Hall for 

 some 3'ears, tells me he never knew a nest there, although six to eight Herons are 

 constantly to be found on his marshes. It is the same here [at Maldon]. I see 

 half a dozen Herons almost every day throughout the spring, and have often 

 wondered where thej' can breed. About seven )'ears ago, there was one nest in 

 Mundon Furze, two and a-half miles south from here, which was destroyed by 

 shooting through the nest and killing the parent bird. Still this same nest was 

 repaired and occupied next year, and two other nests were built not far off. 



Mr. Fitch also mentions (50. ii. 174) having either seen or heard of solitary 

 Heron's nests at Stony Piece, Lawling Hall, Latchingdon ; the Nurser}-, Bradwell 

 Glebe ; the Old Farm (Dunmow Wick), Burnham ; Steeple ; Scot's Grove, oppo- 

 site Guisnes Court gate, Tollesbury ; and the Great Wood, Tolleshunt Major. 

 There used also to be a Heronry, consisting usually of from twelve to fifteen 

 nests, in Bower Hall Grove, on Mersea Island, until it was stubbed about forty 

 years ago. I ',have '.been told that there were formerly nests:[at" Tofts," Little 

 Baddow, but have failed to obtain any_confirmation.] 



