BIRD GROUP MEETING, ABBERTON RESERVOIR,
4TH OCTOBER, 1987
Six members gathered at the hide on a rather
misty morning and were able to see several
thousand Coot and small numbers of Mallard,
Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Pochard and Shoveler.
The only wader was a Common Sandpiper.
From the nearby causeway we saw about forty
Mute Swans, Great Crested Grebes and a Yellow
Wagtail, while the western causeway revealed
hundreds of Canada Geese and some Greylags and
Barnacle Geese, Cormorants, a Common Gull and,
the highlight of the day, two Little Stints
stopping off on migration.
Although this visit produced none of the
rarities for which the reservoir is well known,
readers may be interested to know of plans by
the Naturalists' Trust, Water Company and
Colchester Borough Council to upgrade the
facilities for bird watchers, probably
including the building of an Interpretive
Centre.
JOHN BATH
RED LEG DISEASE OF COMMON FROGS AT MALDON
On July 29th this year I visited the Plume
Avenue area of Maldon where I had received
reports of dying frogs. Four dead frogs were
seen and two were taken alive but suffering