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location for the Club. It consists of an area
of mixed habitats - wood, fresh-water marsh,
scrub and heathland - lying between our regular
Friday Wood haunt and, the often out of bounds,
Donyland Wood. The whole area is owned by the
Ministry of Defence and managed with conservation
very much in mind.
As well as most of the Essex woodland birds the
flooded meadows along the Roman River hold
breeding Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, Shelduck,
Mallard, Canada Goose and Mute Swan. The Lapwing,
Snipe and Shelduck were all in evidence on the
day of the Club's visit, as were at least two
pairs of Yellow Wagtail and two herons. This
sort of wetland habitat is very rare in Essex.
Another speciality of the area is the Nightingale.
Several birds were heard in full throbbing,
vibrant song .
In all, 55 species of birds were encountered,
including six species of warbler, two of the
woodpeckers, Tree Sparrows, Redpolls and
Spotted Flycatcher.
Flora included Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Birdsfoot
and Bugle. Five species of butterflies on the
wing included Wall Brown, Orange-tip and Common
Blue. We failed to find the Dingy and Grizzled
Skipper, although both species have been
reported from this area this summer, as well as
Ringlet, Grayling, Purple Hairstreak, Green
Hairstreak and Essex Skipper.
I think everyone enjoyed their visit to a very
interesting area.
IAN MISSELBROOK