Wildlife and Conservation Review of 1999
47
strong passage of Little Gulls. Likewise, The Naze continued to produce rarities, including Kentish
Plover, Dusky, Pallas's and Yellow-browed Warblers, and as many as 12 Firecrests. A record
count of 19 Black-necked Grebes came from the Lee Valley reservoirs, and in the same area, a
Paddyfield Warbler was at Fisher's Green for three days up to the return of the first Bittern on 29th.
Another warbler surprise, a Dartford Warbler, graced Dagenham Chase for up to two weeks,
continuing the upsurge in Essex records of this species.
Marine mammals continued to hit the headlines, with Pilot Whale in the Thames, and a beached
baby Harbour Porpoise, placenta still attached, at The Naze, indicative perhaps of local breeding.
Early autumn is often when large spiders are most obvious, having fattened up on the summer
bounty. Ray Ruffell reported a considerable number of the uncommon Larinioides sclopetarius
around Heybridge Basin, and media coverage attracted more reports of Argiope bruennichi, although
some proved to be false alarms, despite its very distinctive wasp-striped appearance. Autumn too is
the time for fungi, and an Field Club foray, led by Tony Boniface, of churchyards around Chelmsford
turned up a remarkable community of waxcaps at Little Leighs. No fewer than 12 species were
recorded, in shades of green, grey, white, orange, brown, yellow and red, including the rare Hygrocybe
colemanniana.
The British Trust for Ornithology produced their regular update on the year for breeding birds,
which served to confirm our earlier impression of mixed fortunes. Early breeders did well initially,
responding to the mild winter, before being hit by late frosts and cold; later breeders had a slow start,
but recovered well, apart from Blue and Great Tits which suffered high brood losses because of a
dearth of caterpillars. Farmland birds continued down the slippery slope, and the Garden Bird
Watch confirmed the decline of Starlings, for the first time dropping out of the Top 10. In contrast,
Mute Swans showed considerable successes, a trend continuing from recent years, one which has
been attributed to the ban on use of lead weights by anglers. And hopefully, further benefits will
result from the statutory ban on the use of lead shot for wildfowling on important wetland sites
which came into force in September.
Of course, not all bird increases are welcomed by everyone, especially where those birds are seen as
interfering with human activities. One such case is the recent UK increase in Cormorant and
Goosander populations, which has been seen as a threat to fisheries. A report of work for MAFF,
DETR and the Environment Agency concluded that such 'problems' are not general, but may affect
the viability of certain, specific fisheries. No evidence was forthcoming for the effectiveness of
shooting in support of scaring; the only really effective method of deterrence is seen as human
presence, although the merits of providing fish refuges are growing. The report concluded that legal
protection should not be withdrawn from these birds.
One of our most special insects is of course the Fisher's Estuarine Moth, the total British population
being found in Essex. A full report of conservation action in relation to this species will appear in the
next Essex Naturalist, but in October 1999 an incident occurred which merits brief mention. Without
prior consultation, the Environment Agency started to dredge a borrowdyke at Beaumont and deposit
the spoil on a strong population of Fisher's Estuarine Moth and its foodplant Hog's-fennel. Not
only was this contrary to legislation protecting Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and on the site of
a joint EA/English Nature sea wall mowing experiment (partly to look at the effect of mowing on the
moth and foodplant), but the moth is also specially protected by law. As it was believed an offence
had been committed, the Essex Police Wildlife Liaison Officer was brought in, as is usual in such
situations, and a case was made to the Crown Prosecution Service. In the event, CPS declined to
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)