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naturalized, including Apple, Honeysuckle,
Hebe, Mock Orange, roses and Lawson's
Cypress. Some parts of the island are higher
than the rest and are inhabited by less
salt-loving species.
One animal that attracted my attention was
the Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis).
The female was standing guard on the outside
of her nursery tent with her two front legs
in a characteristic position held close
together.
The island proved to be a peaceful location
and on this occasion the tides were very low
and access was easy.
TONY BONIFACE
DRAGON-FLY MEETING, 27TH JULY, 1985
For once in this wet summer the weather
defied the grim predictions of the fore-
casters. Much of the day was fine and
sunny with only one substantial shower.
Our day began with a visit to the Back-
warden Reserve of the Essex Naturalists'
Trust. A brief 'foray' into the reserve
yielded magnificent views of a fine male
specimen of Aeshna cyanea (the Southern
Hawker dragon-fly) - one of our largest
and most vividly coloured species.
Several specimens of the common damselfly
(Enallagma cyathigerum) were also seen as
well as Aeshna grandis (the Brown Hawker),
which was 'hawking' for its insect prey
in the main open, heathy area of the reserve.