36
theatre is held, which being so sheltered in the trees has
some very interesting plants.
A profusion of plants were noted, among them Hemlock
(Gonium maculatum) Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), Blue Water
Speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica) and Pink Water Speedwell
(Veronica catenata). We also saw and noted 25 different species
of birds, the most notable among these was a Grey Parakeet,
obviously someone's pet which had escaped.
Maureen Tollfree.
N.B.
The Editor was pleased to record the finding of a large
specimen of a Boletus near the car parking area, which Geoffrey
Kibby thinks may possibly be a new species.
Hatfield Forest. Bird Group.4.7.81.
July is rarely considered a good month for birds, particu-
larly in woodland and least of all for bird song, and so it
seemed likely that we would spend more time in Hatfield Forest
studying flowers than hearing or watching birds. It was there-
fore remarkable that as many as 15 members met on this hot and
sticky Wimbledon finals' day.
Taking the forest in two large sweeps, the first to the
south to include the lake and ENT reserve, the second to the
north which took in the bulk of the woodland, we soon had either
heard or seen all the common warblers except for the sedge. If
their song was less sustained than 6-8 weeks previously it was
frequently heard without much of the deafening background chorus
at the height of spring. Common Whitethroats lived up to their
name in the more recently coppiced areas while a nearby lesser
Whitethroat obli gingly sang out to lend a comparison. All the
expected doves (including stock dove), pigeons, crows, finches
(Not hawfinch), the three thrushes and the three 'sparrows' all
revealed themselves, either by furtively cooing and calling among
the tree tops or more kindly by showing themselves. The dense
canopy of early July didn't help. Perhaps most remarkable was
that we heard or saw each of the three woodpeckers with nuthatch
and treecreeper which are not often noted together on a single
outing.
Beside the ENT reserve we had magnificent song flights or
views of several linnets, yellowhammers, reed buntings and par-
ticularly redpolls. And no sooner had we all agreed that snipe