29.
GEOLOGY GROUP MEETINGS
17 members met in the rain at Sheerness
on 20th June to collect fossils from the
London Clay at Warden Point, Isle of Sheppey.
Cliff falls had removed a section of the road
and after a difficult descent to the beach
numerous sharks teeth, fish vertebrae, gastro-
pods and plant remains were collected. 20
members visited Wrabness, Harwich and Stutton
(Suffolk) on 8th August led by P. Allen and
R. Coates. The Wrabness section (TM165322)
showed anticlines and faulting in the London
Clay. Septaria were common and some members
found selenite crystals and pieces of fossil
wood . Harwich foreshore provided a dozen
sharks teeth and several fruits and abundant
wood. The brickearth in the river cliff at
Stutton (TM150330) yielded an interesting
range of fossil molluscs including Bithynis
tentaculata, Corbicula fluminalis, Planorbis
planorbis, Unio and Hygromia hispida.
MAMMAL GROUP ALL NIGHT MEETING - 19/20 Jun
In the middle of what turned out to be the
longest and hottest heatwave ever recorded in
Britain was one night of almost continuous rain.
On that night 45 people ventured out to 12
badger setts around Essex. Only 16 people saw
badgers, because of the poor conditions. Back
at Little Leighs for welcome food we examined
the catch of two moths traps that had been
running all evening. Of the hundred caught,
most were Heart and Darts but also recorded
were Buff and White Ermines, Large Yellow
Underwings, Marbled Minors and many others.
At 3.00 am those remaining drove to Saffron
Walden for a dawn deer watch. Two groups saw
Red Deer, and another Roe Deer in an unrecorded
area. Our thanks to Bob Cowlin, David and
Margaret Scott, Brian Eastcott and the many
other helpers.