the fire was re-lit and the washing-up water le
to boil. By 4.45 we were being led towards the
forest by Ken Hoy, but some time was spent in the
garden where blue tits, blackbirds, song thrushes
and willow warblers were singing. In the forest a
great many birds were heard and seen; early on the
rapid trilling of the wrens were heard. The de-
scending notes of the willow warbler were only too
evident as were the chiff chaff. Wrens were the
more common in the woodland, but on one open ride
willow warblers were heard in abundance to the near
exclusion of all else. The song of bullfinch, green-
finch, wood pigeon and turtle dove were easily dis-
tinguished under the guidance of our leader. Cuckoos
were in evidence and we heard the lesser-knovm
bubbling of the female bird. All three species of
woodpeckers were about with the laughing of the
green to the drumming of the spotted woodpeckers.
The lesser spotted was distinguished from the great-
er spotted by the softer drumming. Lesser redpoll,
treecreeper and spatted flycatcher were seen and a
hawfinch as spotted flying over our heads. The 41
birds claimed to have been seen or heard by lien Hoy
are appended.
Returning, we met David Corke and inspected
the 30 traps set. Harvest mice were not caught but
we were able to see a common shrew and a field vole.
Breakfast of spam and eggs was soon frying in the
pan, and we were joined by several other members.
Having washed up, we returned to the forest to
beat some of the trees and bushes for insects. Oak
produced many caterpillars, including those of the
brindled beauty, dunbar and winter moth, November
moth and the green oak tortrix. Hawthorn produced
in addition the green brindled crescent and the pale
brindled beauty caterpillars. Adult insects examined
included a large number of colour varieties of lady-
bird beetles and several soldier beetles. A variety
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