28.
In Search of Wildlife. February 14th 1975 (Friday).
A number of members had a very pleasant evening as
guests of Mr and Mrs and Andrew Barrow listening to
Bob Cowlin talking on his travels in South America
and Africa and illustrated with superb colour slides.
While enough people attended to make the meeting
worthwhile it was a pity that there was not more
responce from local members. Ihe meeting was held in
Hornchurch as we have many members that way, many of
whom heard of the Club at the Havering Show and it
was for these that the meeting was arranged. If
Hornchurch members would like more local meetings
next winter then perhaps they would write to the
Secretary and tell him so. If you would like to offer
the use of a living room for similar indoor meetings
elsewhere then please let us know. Dagenham, Brentwood,
Loughton and Chelmsford are possible areas.
Ron Allen.
Blackwater Estuary 22nd February 1975.
Some 45 members and friends met at Heybridge
Hall on a misty but rapidly clearing morning. The
mist soon cleared completely and for a February day
we soon found coats unnecessary. Flooded gravel pits
between Maiden and the Heybridge Basin provided many
birds of interest. Some 20 cormorant were standing on
the islands along with a solitary heron. Mr Parker
notes also, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Pintail,
Mallard, Mute Swan, and Coot. The Saltings towards
Goldhangar between the tides provided numerous Shelduck,
Redshank, abundant Dunlin and large numbers of Brent
Geese along the water line. Several Goldeneye were
seen and oystercatchers were displaying. Calls of
Oystercatcher and Redshank were well heard and also
of the Chaffinch near the car park. A single Kestrel
was seen and many skylarks.
Hares were seen in the fields and Fox droppings