26.
REPORTS OF MEETINGS
Amphibians and Reptiles - Coptfold Hall - April 13
A meeting was held at Coptfold Hall, by kind permission
of Col. and Mrs Upton, to study the amphibians and
reptiles of the area. On a near perfect Spring morning
some fifty-six members assembled and netting started in
the old Lily Pond. The catch was mainly smooth news and
some forty specimens of mixed sex were taken. The
palmate newt was present in less numbers - ten males
were seen but very few females identified and no
crested newts caught. The second pond netted was at the
rear of the kitchen garden but this was dark and shady
and no newts were found. Later a slow-worm was found
beside the main ride through the wooded area and a small
grass snake taken near the small pond by Bakers Wood.
A Brimstone butterfly was seen during the morning and
18 birds' species were noted including dunnock and coal
tits. D. R. Scott
The Birds of a South Weald Estate - May 4
This meeting was jointly led by the President and myself
primarily to look at the bird-life. The weather was
quite sunny with a strong northerly wind. As 66 people
attended we split into two groups and covered a large
area of woodland as well as some grazing pastures.
Most noticeable was the high population and diversity of
species of the tit family nesting in the woodland. Also
to be seen were four species of warbler including three
or four singing Blackcaps, numerous Chiff-Chaffs and
Willow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat singing in a
nearby copse. The most surprising bird was a Reed
Bunting singing in the corner of a wood. 31 species of
mainly woodland birds were heard or seen during the
course of the day.
Fallow Deer, Foxes, Green Veined Whites and Speckled
Wood Butterflies were also seen and Martin Gregory
discovered a Wild Service Tree.
Ian P. Misselbrook