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GENERAL MEETING 1261
MILL GREEN AND HIGHWOODS, FRYERNING 18th May, 1980
Over 50 members and friends came to the Car Park opposite
The Viper at 10.00 a.m. It was already sunny and fine for
this meeting and so it continued to be for the rest of
the day.
It was not long before the two groups were listening to
Garden Warblers and Black Caps on opposite sides of the
road. This enabled some members to distinguish these
songs. A little further along the road by a signpost
'Public Bridleway' a Tree Pipit was singing in an Oak
Tree, whilst on the other side of the road a Common
Whitethroat obligingly sang.
During the morning session Willow Warbler and Chiff Chaff
were heard, and in some cases seen. A short stop by
Ellis Wood to listen for Nightingales once again confirmed
that these birds had failed to turn up for the second year.
However, there were quite a number of Redpolls in the
Silver Birch and members were being continually reminded
of their distinctive "twittering" call in flight. A
single Spotted Flycatcher was observed by one group.
The Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Wren, Blackbird all made
their presence felt, whilst on our way back for lunch
the "yaffle" of the Green Woodpecker was heard, as was
the drumming of the Great Spotted Woodpecker.
After lunch was taken around the twenty cars that filled
the Car Park, Woods adjoining the South side of Mill Green
Common were explored, the result being an addition of five
more birds including a single Reed Bunting and the Lesser
Whitethroat.
Unfortunately, the Common has been stripped of its Gorse
bushes and Silver Birch for the supposed formation of a
Cricket Club (the less said about this the better).
Later on in the afternoon the distinctive "peep-peep-peep"
of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard.
Brimstone and Orange Tip butterflies were seen in various