45
WALTON ON NAZE 27th April, 1980
Twenty members attended this meeting on a fine and
sunny day. It was warm enough for members to haue their
lunch on the sea wall facing the Essex Naturalist Trust
Reserve. The tide was also on the way out or on the
change by lunchtime.
The morning session was spent searching the scrub and
gorse bushes of the Naze common. We had expected to
hear some warblers, but we were not very lucky, however,
a Lesser Whitethroat put in an appearance and all were
able to hear it, if not see it. Swallows and numerous
Sand Martins were observed. Good views of Linnet, Yellow
Hammer, Skylark and Meadow Pipits were recorded.
As the Tide receded, a number of interesting waders were
seen - Sanderling, some in partial breeding plumage,
Dunlin in Breeding plumage, Turnstone, Redshank, Shell
Duck, Oyster Catcher. A single Whimbrel flew over and
gave its distinctive single call notes. Along the
shingle Ringed Plover were seen, as were a small number
of Little Terns over the water's edge. A Sedge Warbler
was seen and heard in the Reserve, and some debated as
to whether they had seen a Red Backed Shrike - a puzzle
to all - and this bird remained unidentified.
At the end of the day 42 species had been seen or
heard.
M.T. PARKER
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