and we could see evidence of this in the small hut,
which is now perched half-way over the edge of the
low cliff. There was a good deal of discussion
at the possible future trend of events here, for
the erosion is by no means uniform along the shore.
Mr. J. Holt, Head of the Geography Department of
St. Osyth's College, was present as a visitor with
he Club, and his knowledge of marine erosion pro-
cesses proved enlightening when applied to this
Bite.
The weather cleared during lunch, and we set
off in the afternoon to walk the length of the
shingle spit to the bird hide at the far end.
The receeding tide revealed the mud flats, and many
wading birds were seen feeding at the water's edge.
Our President, Mike Parker, kept a list of observed
species; the day's total came to 25. There were
the expected birds, including Shelduck, turnstone,
durdlin, sandlin, redshank and the two terns. Three
cormorants were seen, and curlew, Oystercatcher and
ringed plover were there in number. An interesting
observation was a male Stonechat seen on the shrubby
seablight near the warden's hut.
We were too early for much plant life, but the
typical plants of shingle and the saltings were
coming up if not in flower. A few brave sea camp-
ions were open in sheltered troughs in the shingle,
and the English scurvy-grass (Cochlearia anglica)
amid the grassy tussocks. Leaves of the yellow
horned-poppy were well forward, and a few patches of
the rare sea heath ware seen along the path edges.
By the time we reached the bird hide, the sun
was out, and it was very pleasant to sit on the
shingle ridge and look out over the calm Colne est-
uary towards the low, tree-silhouetted skyline of
Mersea Island before returning along the foreshore.
Roy Masefield
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