REPORTS OF MEETINGS.
Mammal Group Meeting, Curtismill Green, 19th May 1974.
The Mammal Group met at Curtismill Green on May
19th to look for signs of mammals. Longworth Traps
were set the evening before but as expected the catch
was poor for at this time of year small mammal pop-
ulations are low. However a long tailed field mouse,
a common shrew and two bank voles were caught.
During the ramble around the area two grey squirrels
were seen and signs rabbit were evident but only one
being seen. It was hoped to sec something of the small
heard of Fallow Deer which frequent the area but only
one was seen, this being a fallow buck which was
spotted by one of the deer experts in the party and
his son. Foxes and badgers are known in the area in
general, although no setts or earths are to be found
on the Green itself. One Badger sett about 1 mile
northwest of Passingford Bridge and three miles from
Curtismill Green is known to be in current use and
others in active use are within a five mile radius.
A number of mole hills were recorded but there appeared
to be little sign of stoat or weasel.
Other observations in the area included large numbers
of Orange Tip butterflies and the sound of cuckoo and
Chiff Chaff dominated the birdsong.
D.R.Scott.
Thorndon Park, Brentwood. 22nd September 1974.
The weather forecasters proved to be wrong for
this meeting which was attended by 28 members and
friends. After the previous very wet day this Sunday
turned out to be dry and sunny.
After a very short tine members were soon either
looking for fungi or watching for birds. The birds
were very quiet and had to be looked for, but within
15 minutes of the start of the meeting we saw and
watched a group of Redpolls. These birds can be recog-
nised by their flight call - 'twit twit' and if one