THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
57
Mr. Syms showed a nest of black ants, Formica nigra, containing a
living larva of the dipterous fly Microdon, of slug-like aspect and originally
described as a slug! and sketched its life history.
Mr. Thorrington showed a collection of succulent plants, belonging
to different natural orders, also borings of Scolytus in elm-bark, cells of the
leaf-cutting bee Megachile centuncularis, and a specimen of the mycetozoan
Didymium squamulosum.
Mr. Wilson read an account of his observations on the Sexton Beetles
(Necrophori), of which he exhibited specimens.
The meeting closed at 5.15 o'clock.
VISIT TO THE WALTHAMSTOW RESERVOIRS
(740TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 2ND MARCH, 1935.
By permission of the Metropolitan Water Board, a visit was paid to
its Reservoirs in the Lea Valley, with the object of studying the aquatic
birds which frequent them at this season of the year. Our President,
Mr. William E. Glegg, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., conducted the party of nearly
forty members and friends who foregathered shortly after 2.30 o'clock
at the Coppermill Lane entrance.
The weather was favourable: a dry afternoon, with little or no wind,
and, although sunless, with sufficiently good light to enable the birds to
be seen clearly at a considerable distance.
Neglecting the Racecourse Reservoir, usually the most prolific in bird
life, but on this occasion almost deserted, the visitors proceeded north-
wards along the chain of lake-like sheets of water as far as the Banbury
Reservoir, noting many Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted
Duck and Mallard on the way.
On the island in Reservoir No. 5, many Carrion Crows were seen perched
on the trees, and near them two Herons.
Several Bramblings were observed associating with a flock of
Chaffinches, and a Kingfisher was seen.
Blackheaded Civilis were not many, several of them already wore the
brown hood of the breeding season, others were immature.
A party of about ten Smew was seen, afar off, on the Banbury
Reservoir, and here, too, was the great find of the day, a solitary Razorbill,
which gave the visitors a good view of itself as it flew in a wide circle
just above the surface about the Reservoir. The Razorbill is a rara avis
in our county at all times, even on the coast, it being definitely an off-
shore bird. Our President, in his History of the Birds of Essex, 1929,
records its occurrence only at three or four coastal localities, as Maldon,
Burnham and Southend, hence its occurrence so far inland as the Lea
Valley is a noteworthy event. Smews have been regular winter visitants
to these Reservoirs, always in small numbers, for the past dozen years.
In all, 32 different species of birds were noted on the present occasion,
including, besides those already mentioned, Reed Bunting, Meadow
Pipit, Stonechat, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Common Gull and Herring Gull.
The Butterbur (Petasites vulgaris) was seen growing, together with
Coltsfoot, in damper spots.