22.
TIPTREE HEATH - 3rd JUNE 1979
46 members and friends attended this
meeting held on a very warm and sunny day.
The party was split into three groups
and proceeded to cover as much of the Heath
as possible. Before the meeting started -
in front of the parked cars - everyone was
able to hear a Lesser Whitethroat in full
song. On proceeding further along the heath
a Common Whitethroat was also heard, thereby
enabling us to be able to distinguish these
birds.
Amongst the Gorse, and singing from
advantage points, we all were able to see and
hear Linnets and Yellow Hammers. In addition
to this one group spent quite a time watching
a Redpoll at close range and also a Willow
Warbler.
Skylarks were singing over the Heath
and one was even seen at close range on the
ground, quite oblivious to the 10 or 12
people watching it. Swallows and House
Martins were seen
gathering mud for their
nests.
Some of the Heath has
now been managed and it
was noticed that there
is considerable regene-
ration of Heather taking
place. The Heath is
famous as a habitat where
the three kinds of Heather can be seen. Some
Milkwort and also some fine specimens of Star
of Bethlehem, Ornithogalum umbellatum, were
seen. Nowadays this plant is more often seen