42
Palmate Newts and a small amount of frog
spawn.
Our third stop was the Wake Valley area
and in the main pond we found mating Toads
in large numbers, a few pairs also in
Little Wake Valley Pond, but a good number
in the bomb crater mid-way between the
two. This area is always short of Newts
and none were seen in any of these waters.
We finally returned to the Conservation
Centre and walked across to Oak Plain Pond.
Here, as on previous visits, the Palmate
Newt was the dominant species, counting
forty four against thirty Smooth Newts.
At the end of the day we had netted Newt
species as follows:-
Great Crested Newts 13
Smooth Newts 62
Palmate Newts 67
DAVID SCOTT
BIRD GROUP MEETING: FISHERS GREEN GRAVEL
PITS, 27th April, 1986
Seven members travelled to the Essex/Hertford-
shire border north of Waltham Abbey to this
exciting 80 acre maze of flooded gravel
pits on a cold day with some drizzle.
Those that braved the weather were rewarded
with all the spring migrants to be expected
at this season.