Wildlife and Conservation Review of 1999
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new nesting sites including the Stone Point lagoons (3 pairs), Langenhoe Marsh and Colchester
Hythe silt lagoons. Possibly breeding Buzzards and Firecrests (2 sites) were located in the south-
west of Essex. June saw a Scarlet Rosefinch at St Osyth (a potential colonist species) and two
Quail were heard at Colne Point, while by the end of the month return passage was first noted in the
form of Spotted Redshanks, including up to 14 at Fleet Head, Great Wakering. During July, a Red-
rumped Swallow passed through Fingringhoe Wick, and the East Tilbury Avocets stalled to return
and built up to 200, along with as many as 72 Yellow-legged Gulls rising to 294 in August. Most
intriguingly, a Black Woodpecker (not yet on the British List) was reported from Mucking, the
same general area as one was also reported in 1998. Now, that would really put Essex birding on the
map! Which is just what another bird at the opposite end of the county did in August, when a White
Pelican arrived at Cattawade and stayed for three weeks, making inroads into the Grey Mullet
population of the river. Again not on the British List, that situation is perhaps unlikely to change in
view of the number of pelicans held in captivity and occasionally escaping. Not that it put off those
seeking an 'insurance tick', and many were rewarded with excellent views of one or two long-
staying Ospreys.
Other August highlights included a wandering Spoonbill, a big count of 1150 Black-tailed Godwits
at East Mersea, Wrynecks at Holland Haven and Shoeburyness, and Scarlet Rosefinch and Barred
Warbler at The Naze, along with 90 Lesser Whitethroats on 29th. A Marsh Sandpiper at Abberton
was our small contribution to the record influx nationally, and a White-winged Black Tern graced
Heybridge Pits late in the month and into September.
August continued with very high temperatures and humidity for the first few days, but soon collapsed
into thunderstorms, followed by unsettled, cool and damp weather. The month again produced above
average rainfall; for example in Colchester, 18mm fell in just 25 minutes during one storm, leading
to widespread Hooding.
High rainfall can have its upside however. Less than a year after mechanical scraping at Tiptree
Heath, to try and regenerate heathland using the 'football-pitch method' (see last year's report), its
success was apparent in the carpets of Heather seedlings: they are notoriously unreliable germinators
and the moisture is likely to have helped. Unfortunately, Gorse is also responding similarly, so
further intervention may become necessary if the objectives are to be met. Baroness Young, Chairman
of English Nature visited the site, to celebrate the success as part of Essex BAP Week, and to secure
the commitment of other heathland managers to restoring our purple haze.
One species covered by the national and Essex BAPs is Water Vole, in view of its dramatic decline
in former strongholds such as Essex. A survey of the ditches in Rainham Marsh led to claims that
the area supports possibly the highest density in south-east England, yet another facet to this
hugely important site which remains under threat of development. And another bit of mammal news
- the Hamford Water Common Seal colony reared live pups.
Towards the end of August, there were the signs of a small amount of insect immigration - a Large
Tortoiseshell was seen at Brightlingsea, and numbers of Silver Y, Dark Sword-grass, Rush Veneer
and White Point moths started to appear in the traps. As the first Ivy flowers burst their buds, so
hoverflies became very noticeable, including up to 4 examples together in my garden of the dramatic
Volucella zonaria.
The major natural event of the summer, indeed of the year for many, occurred on 11th August. One of
Nature's greatest spectacles visited western Europe just before lunchtime - a total solar eclipse.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)