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chased by a couple of crows. At the picturesque
pond by Carroll's Farm we saw our first swallows,
hunting across the water.
The old Green Lane nearby -- once quite important
as a droving route to market - now has three
imposing houses along its route, replacing the
two dilapidated clapboard cottages of 20 years
ago .
Lunch stop was 'The Owl" and those with sharp
eyes and binoculars spotted a pair of unidentified
birds of prey with scimitar wings, chasing one
another and playing in the air currents over the
forest.
Our route back was quicker, covering the public
footpaths of the locals' Five fields walk' across
parts of the West Essex Golf Course and past the
ponds of Ludgate House, where we heard and saw
curlews pottering in the mud of the duck
enclosures.
Dull but dry weather made a pleasant day's walk.
IRENE BUCHAN
BIRD GROUP MEETING, OLD HALL MARSHES, TOLLESBURY,
28th April, 1985
Seven members assembled at the appointed map
reference at 11 a.m., for a visit to this new
R.S.P.B. Reserve, acquired in February 1985.
By the road we were all able to listen to the
distinct song of a Lesser Whitethroat, perhaps
the first of the season for some of us. It was
a very cold walk to the sea wall and it proved