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COASTAL ECOLOGY FIELD TRIP - Botany Group
Colne Point (27.4.80)
The small number of Field Club members was swelled by a
group from the Colchester Natural History Society and left
the Priory at 11.15 a.m. to enjoy a perfect summer's day.
Although the group concentrated on botanical subjects,
inevitably we found many other interesting aspects at
Colne Point. As anticipated, many of the coastal annuals
were just emerging and thus the variety of Attriplex sp.
present on the reserve were not identified. We found
good stands of henbane (Hyoscyanus niger) and yellow-
horned poppy (Glaucium flarum) as well as the typical
shingle ridge plants like sea campion (Silene maritima)
and shrubby seablight(Suaeda fruticosa). While searching
amongst the poppy plants we found two ringed plover nests
(l egg, 4 eggs). On the dry Saltmarsh areas Rock Sea
Lavender (Limonium binervosom) Sea wormwood (Artemisia
Maritima), Sea heath (Frankenia laevis)and Danish Scurvy-
grass (Cochlearia danica) were found. A small patch of
sea Pearlwort (Sagina maritima) was found. Jermyn in 'Flora
of Essex' lists this plant as 'very rare'; the only other
recorded site in Essex is Walton.
During our long treck to Sandy Point (the northern tip of
the reserve) we saw a good variety of waders including
curlew, both blacktailed and bartailed godwits, Sanderling
turnstone, grey plover in full summer plumage in addition
to the large numbers of oystercatchers, ringed plover,
dunlin and redshank. Towards the end of the day we under-
took a brief excursion over the sanddunes we found extensive
areas colonised by sea sandworts (Honkenya peploides),
sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) and sea bindweed (Calystegia
soldanella), although it was too early in the season to
see the plants at their best. While walking over the
dune area, the spider Arctosa perita was in obvious
abundance and several common lizards were seen. We also
found Rock sapphire (Crithmum maritimum) and, much to the
Warden's delight a second year plant of sea kale (Crombe
maritima) was located.
Throughout the day, little terns were seen fishing on the
reserve and despite the group leader's attempt to starve
the party, everybody survived. BOB HIDER