June 11th, 1972. General Meeting No.1185. Danbury and
Little Baddow. In cool, showery weather, about 20 members
attended this meeting. The morning was spent in Pheasant-
house Wood, Little Baddow, belonging to the Essex Naturalists'
Trust, and adjacent parts of Woodham Walter Common. Among
the points of interest were the Sphagnum bog in Pheasanthouse
Wood, and the examples of correlation between soil type and
vegetation cover, well shown in Woodham Walter Common.
In the afternoon, a walk was made through two more
Trust Reserves - Poors Piece and Scrubs Wood. Interesting
plants were recorded during the day, including the Broad-
leaved Heleborine, which seems to be increasing. The day
ended with a brief visit to Danbury Parish Church, where
the most interesting features proved to be the beautifully-
carved poppy-heads depicting real and mythical beasts, and
the unusual wooden tomb-carvings of crusading knights.
Roy Masefield.
June 18th. 1972 Thorndon Park. In spite of continuous
drizzle and rain during the morning, 15 members attended
this meeting. A number of interesting birds were seen and
heard, but the slight wind and unseasonable weather kept
the birds quiet. During the damp morning session, a Tree
Pipit was seen close by the cars as the walk started, then
a male and female Redstart were seen very clearly. Thorndon
Park is still a stronghold for the Wood Warbler which had
been singing earlier in the week, but it was not heard.
Whilst listening for the Wood Warbler, a Goldcrest was
heard in a nearby pine Tree. During lunch a male Redstart
came quite near to the cars - later on the rain stopped and
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits and a single Marsh Tit were
all seen. A Blackcap was also seen and heard. At the end
of the meeting 32 birds had been seen or heard, a good
total for such a damp and unseasonable outing. It was good
to be able to report that Redstarts and Tree Pipits can
still be seen and heard in this fine park.
Mike Parker.
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