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overlooked, even during the time of peak
feeding activity in the 2-3 hours just
after dawn. It was, therefore, not
surprising that, with several blocks of
timber to be surveyed by each group, and
progress through the trees being necessarily
fairly rapid and sometimes noisy, few squirrels
were seen. In fact when we all returned
to the Forestry Commission Headquarters for
a welcome breakfast of venison sausages, we
discovered that, despite abundant indications
of their presence, only one Red Squirrel
had been sighted during the whole of the
morning's survey. Appropriately, this
animal was seen by David Scott, currently
Chairman of the Essex Field Club Mammal
Group and a past President of the Club.
Those of us in another group had seen Roe
Deer, and a Common Toad (Bufo bufo) was
found just as we were leaving the cars to
start the survey.
In addition to providing a southern lowland
refuge for the Red Squirrel, Thetford
Forest also has a significant deer population,
especially Roe (Capreolus capreolus) and
Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) .
After the Red Squirrel meeting, the Essex
Field Club contingent went on a walk in The
King's Forest, led by Brian Eastcott, who
is involved in an on-going survey of deer in
parts of Thetford Forest. During the course
of this enjoyable ramble we saw Muntjac,
Roe and Fallow Deer, and a dead Grass Snake.
Following a picnic lunch, three of us stayed
on for another more leisurely walk. Our
enthusiasm was amply rewarded! It was by