19 - 20th May 1973 DUSK AND DAWN IN EPPING FOREST
For several years members have been asking for
a dawn chorus meeting.
We assembled at the Suntrap Field Centre at
High Beach on the edge of the Forest variously
between 2.00 and 3.00pm and erected tents kindly
supplied by the Centre in the large field behind.
By 3.45 Peter Glassborow was leading us through the
forest in a circular route through Suntrap Plain
across Fairmead Bottom and back via Whitehouse Plain.
Slight rain deterred the butterflies and other
insects but we heard a number of birds singing and
discussed beekeeping and the impending demolition
of the Owl public house as we went.
It had stopped raining by the time we got back
when the kettles were near boiling in the lean-to
near the tents. The cooks retired to the larder
while we made tea and buttered bread. Goon immense
tins of things and a variety of spices and curry
powder were being poured into a cauldron over three
gas rings while some of us got through double and
treble helpings a fire was lit to burn the rubbish and
boil the water for washing up. Soon David Corke of
the Mammal Group arrived back at the tents to find a
large fire burning. It was a warm night and we sat
talking around the fire drinking hot chocolate and
eating toast ingeniously cooked over the fire. Ken
Hoy then took us back to the Suntrap to see some
slides, mainly of insects to be seen in and around
the forest, and there was some discussion on the
identification of the various insects shown.
The night proved to be very warm and we were all
up by 4.00am to hear the first blackbirds and last
owls calling. While water was boiling for coffee,
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