26.
GOLDHANGER - SUNDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 1975
Over 50 members of the Club and Essex Naturalist
Trust attended this meeting. The weather was dull
and overcast, but dry for the whole time on our sea
wall walk. One side of the road from the church
northwards was filled with Members' parked cars.
At the sea wall two groups were formed, lead by
M. T. Parker and I. Misselbrook. The tide was on the
turn so we were lucky to see Waders and Geese
returning to the exposed mud flats as the morning
went on. In a field adjacent to the sea wall there
were large numbers of small waders blotting out the
centre of the field with their bodies giving the
appearance of a light brown and white path.
These birds were a mixed flock of Dunlin and
probably Turnstones - a sight not to be forgotten.
Before lunch was taken, Brent Geese, Dunlin,
Redshank, Ring Plover and Turnstones had all been
seen. Along the sea wall, a Stonechat, a Corn
Bunting, were also noticed, in addition to flocks
of Greenfinch and Goldfinches. On the mud flats
towards Osea Island a large number of Curlew were
seen, giving their plaintive and most pleasant calls.
At the end of a very well attended and
successful meeting it was reported that 46 different
species had been seen.
M. T. Parker