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Wildlife and Conservation Review of 1999
The extremity of Cornwall got it, then Brittany, before cutting a swathe across central Europe and
into the Middle East. In Essex, the sun's disc was only 95% obscured, but that was sufficient to
result in a perceptible darkening and a significant drop in temperature. There were few reports of its
effect on wildlife, although at Purfleet Eric Steer observed the local Sand Martins undertaking pre-
roost flights. Me, I headed for totality, seeking a grandstand view in Bavaria. Bad weather made it
touch and go, but for the critical period, the sun (or lack of it) was fully visible through a thin veil of
cloud (see Plate 3). As darkness approached, the local birds got seriously into nighttime mode and a
few moths fluttered out, as a strange half-light drained all colour from the land. For two minutes the
sun was gone, an eerie silence fell over us, before the light flooded back and the spell was broken.
The rei ief as the sun returned was almost perceptible - and we knew what to expect: little wonder
that primitive people held eclipses in such high regard/terror. When the chance arises again, my
advice would be to settle only for totality - it was an amazing experience which left a lasting impression.
Autumn
The first two weeks of September proved to be the most sustained summer weather of the year, with
temperatures regularly up to 25 C and remarkably warm nights, although heavy, thundery showers in
mid-month added to the above-average rainfall of past months. 125mm of rain in just one week led
to widespread flooding in the latter half of the month, dominated by south-westerly airstreams and
low pressure. But high pressure re-established in October, giving sunny days and low rainfall, until
cold weather from 20th lent a very autumnal feel to the countryside.
During September, the moth traps started to fill up well, as if to make amends for the poor early
summer. At my trap in Dovercourt on 10th September (minimum 18 C), I recorded a near-record
total count (second only to the invasion of Latticed Heaths in August 1997) of 1609 specimens of
64 species. Nothing too rare, but the haul did include 606 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 338
Common Wainscot and 226 Large Yellow Underwing. Later in the month, the Dewicks' Curry
Farm trap at Bradwell picked up almost unprecedented numbers and variety of immigrant species.
What a strange summer it was - if any further evidence is needed, Graham Bailey's report (see
elsewhere in this volume) of a unique large second brood of Heath Fritillary at Hockley Woods
surely provides it. And almost as dramatic, the huge, swarming emergence of grassland crane-flies
at the end of September provided food for birds and food for thought - it was presumably not
unrelated to the mild, damp summer coming after a largely frost-free winter.
North American waders and gulls arrived in Britain in good numbers during late September, although
the Essex contribution was just a Ring-billed Gull at Shoeburyness (which stayed all winter) and
two Pectoral Sandpipers at Hanningfield Reservoir. Their Siberian counterpart, Sharp-tailed
Sandpiper, put in a first Essex record at Foulness, along with other eastern migrants such as Icterine
Warbler and Red-backed Shrike at The Naze. On September 26th a remarkable passage of
hirundines past The Naze was estimated to include 17,000 birds. From a southerly direction, the
now-familiar autumn build-up of Little Egrets produced 16 at Howlands Marsh and 7 in Copperas
Bay, both groups adopting tree roosts, and wandering White Storks and White-headed Ducks,
although the provenance of the latter in particular must be open to question. Sea watching at Canvey
revealed good numbers of skuas, including all four species on 20th.
The first returning Brent Goose families were seen on the early date of 6th September, but it was not
until mid-October that the main arrival took place. There were plenty of young, signifying a successful
breeding season, and it may be no coincidence that they started to feed on crops almost immediately.
Seabird passage continued, with a total 8 Leach's Petrels off Canvey during October, among a
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)