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cover all of the groups of plants and animals that our expertise permits. I will personally
volunteer to put all the data on computer and generate a full species inventory, suitably
annotated with Red Data Book, Nationally Notable and other codes, and present this to the
Trust together with some outline management ideas. I am now suggesting that we make a
date in our diaries to visit the Marsh on the first Sunday of every month from March to
October 1998 inclusive, meeting at 10 am. I am not volunteering to be present at every
single gathering (I shall be out of the country for at least one of them) but then that should
not matter. I hope that ALL of the Club's Recorders will feel able to take part in this survey.
Anyway, unless I miscalculate, this will be the last Newsletter before the 1997/98 Annual
General Meeting and, consequently, this will be my last President's Page. It has been an
interesting year and I wish my successor good luck (he might need it), and hope that he
feels inclined to continue writing the first page to each newsletter.
Colin W. Plant
GOLDCRESTS AND GREY PHALAROPES
Seven members of the Field Club assembled on the nearest road to a new venue for the bird
group on Sunday 26th October 1997. This was Paglesham Lagoon in a fairly remote area of
Essex near the River Roach. The weather was warm and sunny all day.
We walked along the footpath leading to the lagoon pausing to watch Goldfinches, Blue tits,
Great tits and an elusive Goldcrest in small hawthorns and willows. The shrubs also
produced some Yellowhammers.
On reaching the lagoon we walked around it to the far side so that we had the sun behind us.
The water was inhabited by many gulls, ducks, geese and swans. Four species of gulls were
seen and the ducks were admired as their breeding plumage was well developed. The Teal
looked particularly beautiful with green and brown heads and a yellow patch near their tails.
The sound of Wigeon added to the attractive atmosphere of the location. Two Gadwall were
observed amongst the other wildfowl.
The highlight of the day was the arrival of two Grey phalaropes which landed on the water to
drink. Although they did not demonstrate their characteristic swimming style, their general
shape and particularly the fairly thick black beaks, one of which had a distinctive yellow
base, distinguished them from juvenile Little gulls. After ten minutes they flew off again to
resume their migration.
The surrounding fields hosted feral pigeons, a few Wood pigeons and some very blueish
Stock doves; Lapwings and Golden plovers were also present and at one point in the
afternoon a Black-tailed godwit displayed its prominent wing bars.
Our picnic lunch was taken on the sea wall overlooking the River Roach when more
Lapwings, Grey plovers, Godwits, Oyster catchers, Redshanks and Curlews were seen.
The walk back added Little grbes to the Great crested grebes seen on the river, and
culminated with superb views of two Goldcrests low down, for once, in hawthorn scrub.
We also watched three female Reed buntings and two Yellowhammers. A migrant Fieldfare
flew over to add to a few departing Swallows seen earlier in the day.
The trip had provided fifty one species of birds, glorious weather, pleasant countryside and
good company, and we departed hoping to add this site to our programme in future years.
 Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 24, February 1998