26.
REPORTS OF MEETINGS
Small Mammal Trapping - 17th October 1976
About 50 members and guests met at the
Backwarden Reserve to look mainly at small
mammals. The early part of the meeting was
not promising: about 100 longworth traps set
overnight yielded only two Woodmice and a
bankvole, a very low catch. Then, with the
help of Mr Les Staines the acting warden, we
started checking and cleaning out the bird
boxes on the reserve and were delighted to
find live dormice in four out of the 17 boxes.
This was the first time most people (including
the leader!) had ever seen wild living dormice
and it was therefore an especially pleasing
meeting. A total of five adult mice and a
late juvenile were seen, together with one
adult's ability at swimming!
Bob Cowlin
P.S. Dormice have recently been found in
several other Essex Nat. Trust Reserves,
including Shadwell and Welleyhall Woods.
They may not be such scarce animals as we
thought.
GOLDHANGER SEA WALL - 31st October 1976
More than 70 members and friends attended
this meeting on what proved to be a perfect
Autumn day. The sun was shining most of the
time we were on the sea wall and the tide was
out. In addition, we were all able to lunch
there.
As soon as we arrived the large group was
broken into two parties lead by M. T. Parker
and I. P. Misselbrook. Both parties very soon
saw thousands of Brent Geese, these having been