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Bird Notes and Records of Meetings, 1968
By M. T. Parker
Meetings
Six meetings were held during 1968 and these were all well
attended. Attendances were well above the average of 1967.
Very few of these meetings were affected by adverse weather con-
ditions so that members were able to enjoy all meetings.
28 April—Hylands Park, Chelmsford. This was a General
Meeting of the Club and attended by 21 members. The weather
was, in the main fine and sunny, and only for a short time was
it necessary to seek shelter in the woods from a heavy rain storm.
Birds seen or heard were as follows: —Blue Tit, Great Tit,
Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap,
Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird,
Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Wren, Jay, House Sparrow, Tree
Sparrow, Heron (5 nests), Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch,
Swallow, House Martin, Rook, Jackdaw, Mallard, Starling, Tree
Creeper. A total of 29 species.
A visit was made to the heronry in the Park, and the birds
watched at their nests. Our President was pleased to note that
the Essex Naturalists' Trust has taken action over the protection
of this heronry.
A small group made a note of the flora of the woods and
open spaces. No unusual plants were observed, but interesting
ones include the Wood Goldilocks (Ranunculus auricomus) with
imperfect petals, and the Slender Speedwell (Veronica filiformis)
which is a garden escape, now spreading rapidly. An interesting
feature was the exceptional regeneration of Sycamore (Acer
pseudoplatanus), the ground near the parent trees being carpeted
by their seedlings. Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) also showed vigor-
ous regeneration. Forty-four flowering plants were noted in the
final count.
12 May—Danbury Common. This was another fine, sunny
day and again well attended, 17 members being present. Birds
seen and heard were as follows:—Blue Tit. Great Tit, Willow
Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Willow
Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin,
Dunnock, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Yellow Hammer, Wren, Tree and
House Sparrows, Jay, Rook. Turtle Dove, Tree Pipit, Reed Bun-
ting, Skylark, Starling. No Red-backed Shrikes were seen.
Danbury Common is one of the few places where these birds have
been recorded in previous years. In comparison with previous
years there were few Tree Pipits. Total number recorded 28.