41
MANNINGTREE AND RIVER STOUR 28th October, 1979
The Field Club last met at Manningtree on the 16th October
1977 in rather similar weather to this meeting. Thirty
five members arriued by Car at Manningtree Station at
11.30 a.m. on a cold, but to start with, a bright
sunny morning.
The morning session included a walk as far as the
barrage near Flatford Will. During this walk few birds
were seen. However, all were able to see Red Legged
Partridge, Black Headed Gulls, and a number of Reed
Buntings, Bullfinch and Greenfinch. Lunch was taken
in the shelter of the barrage, and after lunch one group
were very fortunate in being able to see a Green
Woodpecker nearby. The party made its way to Cattawade
along the Sea Wall and we were lucky in hauing three
sitings of Kingfisher. We also saw a number of Redshank
and six Little Grebe on the riuer. On a mud island we
debated the identity of a wader, which finally turned
out to be a single Turnstone. Other birds recorded were
Lapwing, Cormorant, Heron, and at least three Kestrel
sightings. A number of late swallows and House Martins
were also seen. One member reported that he had seen
some Redwings.
Before returning to the Station, by way of the Main
Road, some members were lucky in being able to collect
some fine specimens of the Fungus Lepiota procera -
certainly enough to provide a suitable addition to
breakfast.
At the end of the meeting at 3.15 p.m. 34 birds had
been seen or heard.
M.T. PARKER
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