25.
this stage of the walk numerous Swallows and House
Martins were still to be seen. Lunch was taken in the
shelter of the sluice gates, which provided shelter
from the northerly wind and a heron and kestrel were
seen nearby. In the afternoon members walked along
side the River Stour, in the sunshine, towards Catta-
wade. The tide had not gone out sufficiently to attract
waders; in spite of this Dunlin, Redshank, Ringed
Plover and a single Sheldrake were seen. All members
saw more than one cormorant in flight.
At the end of the meeting, 25 birds had been seen
a good total for such a successful and enjoyable
meeting.
M.T.Parker.
Mammal Group Meeting to Layer-de-la-Haye. 21 Oct. 1974.
This meeting of the Mammal Group was held in
conjunction with the Colchester Natural History Society
at Kingsford Marsh Reserve, Layer-de-la-Haye, Colchester.
(TL9744211). The plan was to study the animal population
of the reserve and 41 Longworth Small Mammal Traps wore
set resulting in 19 catches as follows:
6 Bank Voles,
4 Common Shrews,
2 Short Tailed Voles,
7 Wood Mice or Long Tailed Mice.
A Harvest Mouse nest of the summer type was found in
a rush area about 20" above ground level. One Grey
Squirrel was seen and evidence of Fox, Mole, and
Water Voles along the bank of the Roman River which
borders the reserve, were also found.
The party about 16 strong exchanged notes on the
bird-mammal records, the Colchester people being mainly
ornithologists. The morning was fine and the meeting
provided a good opportunity of meeting naturalists
from this area of Essex and enjoying an informal and
most interesting ramble.
D.R.Scott.