36
REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGY GROUP 1979
Once again, the Ornithology section of the Field Club
enjoyed well-attended meetings throughout the year,
concentrating on field outings in Spring, high Summer
and early Autumn.
The season started with a full coach-load of members-
travelling to the R.S.P.B. reserve at Minsmere in early
March to see some of the birds which are a speciality
on this famous part of the Suffolk Coast. We were not
to be disappointed, as excellent views were obtained
of that rarest of British raptors, the Marsh Harrier,
and also, both male and female Hen Harriers were observed
throughout the day, quartering the reed beds on long,
slowly beating menacing wings. Hen Harriers and Short-
eared Owls have been one ornithological bonus on the
Essex Coast in this severest of winters and early spring.
On the other hand, the prolonged severe weather had
obviously taken its toll on that other delightful resident
of reed beds, the bearded tit or reedling, only one or
two of which were heard calling by Club members on this
visit.
The Field Club visits Epping Forest in mid-April to hear
songs of our early summer visitors from the African
Continent. The dull weather on this year's visit was
probably responsible for only one or two willow warblers
and chiff chaffs singing, and a single blackcap arguably
the most beautiful of all British songbirds, provided a
few brief tantalising snatches of its repertoire: possibly
only arrived from south of the Mediterranean within hours
of our hearing him.
We also saw and heard that pretty resident of oak woodland,
the nuthatch, together with other woodland species, tree-
creeper, marsh tit, great spotted woodpecker, but not, alas,
the elusive hawfinch, which we were lucky enough to see
last year.