19
Wildlife and Conservation Review of 1998
CHRIS GIBSON
1, Dove House Cottage, Oakley Road, Dovercourt CO] 2 5DR
Winter
January opened as 1997 ended, unsettled with
periods of squally rain. But interspersed
among these were some exceptionally mild
days, rising to 160C. with just a few frosty-
nights in the second week. The warmth
brought an unseasonal taste of spring in the
form of butterflies emerging early from
hibernation. Peacock and small tortoiseshell
were reported in various locations on suitable
days into February, which proved remarkably
mild and dry, with only 25% of the long-term
average rainfall. Even the moth traps started to
fill up, with both early emergences of spring
species and a scattering of migrants, such as
silver Y, no doubt associated with a mid-
month fall of Sahara dust.
Conversely, wintering birds were far from
exceptional in number; in particular, short-
eared owls and raptors seemed few and far
between on the coastal marshes. Breeding
birds, however, got off to an early start,
raising hopes that our 'common' species might
make amends for the previous, disastrous
breeding season. Frogs and toads were widely
reported spawning some two or three weeks
ahead of schedule.
During the early part of the year, concerns
started to be raised by conservation bodies
about the potential environmental damage
resulting from the commercial release of
genetically-modified crops. Spearheaded by
English Nature, the concerns fell initially on
deaf cars, but as the year progressed, the
arguments became sufficiently convincing for
a moratorium on commercial release to be
agreed while environmental impact studies arc
carried out. The concerns are many-fold -
herbicide-tolerant crops leading to even fewer
weeds (and farmland birds); insect-resistant
crops further reducing food supplies for birds;
and both possibly spreading undesirable trails
to native, non-crop plants.
Spring
Typically, the weather in March started
unsettled, but deteriorated as the month
progressed. Cold spells affected early breeding
birds, such as blue and great tits, by reducing
the availability of insect food just as their
hungry broods needed feeding. The lowest
astronomical tides of the year at the end of the
month saw geologists examining the foreshore
gravels at Jaywick; Tim Barritt of the
Environment Agency was fortunate enough to
pick up a mammoth's tooth. Exceptional rain
storms just before Easter led to widespread
flooding in April, compounded by snow and
severe frosts in mid-month. The new growth
of leaves was badly frosted, and much of
April was a more-or-less butterfly-free period.
Indeed, insects generally were in short supply,
and perhaps related to Illis most summer
migrant birds were on the late side. Some
species, especially house martin and spotted
flycatcher, hardly appeared at all, although
this may be more due to adverse conditions on
their wintering grounds or migration routes.
May saw an improvement in the weather, with
above-average day temperatures, although still
cold at night. A very warm spell over much of
the county in mid-month was tempered at least
on the coast by chilly north-east winds, but our
wildlife at least had a chance to recover from
the turmoil of April.
As is often the case, late spring Continental
overshoots appeared, most notably a black-
headed bunting on Two Tree Island. The
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)