rain showers which made watching less pleasant than it
could have been.
After the watch, most members came back to Varley
Place, Brentwood for a barbeque. They were able to taste
"Steak carolinensis" - tender grey squirrel legs friend
in bread crumbs, venison and "Lepus decrotte a la Moulton -
a delicious brown hare dish from just over the border as
well as more normal fare!
I would like to thank Mr. Carter for kindly allowing
us on his land, and the cooks and watching leaders for
their help with the meeting.
Bob Cowlin
July 11th, Curtis Mill Green (Birds)
Fourteen members attended this meeting on a very hot
day. In spite of the heat, 33 different birds were seen and
heard. Black-caps, common and lesser Whitethroats were
heard and sometimes seen. A sedge warbler was heard at
close quarters, but would not show itself.
Some interesting insects were seen; the banded agrion,
Agri on splendens, a, damsel-fly. Also two very interesting
hover—flies which looked like bumble bees. These were latex-
identified as Volucella bombylans, and Volucella pellucens.
Numerous butterflies, including one comma, small heaths,
skippers, meadow browns were recorded,
A fine orchid was discovered in one part of the Green,
possibly the common spotted orchid, The secretary took a
photograph of this orchid.
This was no doubt a meeting full of interest from the
point of view of birds, botanically, and also the many
insects, We also visited Richard's Stone - one of the
boundary stones of the Forest, bearing an Essex Field Club
plaque of 1909.
Mike Parker
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