Wildlife and Conservation Review of 2000
perhaps again attributable to climate change.
In the heart of Essex, on the Danbury Ridge, Stan Hudgell turned up another new county record in
the form of the Hollowed Glass-snail Zonitoides excavatus, a characteristic snail of damp, acid
woodland. It is quite distinctive - larger, darker and with a wider and deeper umbilicus than the
familiar Discus rotundus; what is especially amazing is that it had escaped the notice of the late,
eagle-eyed Geoff Pyman in his favourite stamping grounds. Also of molluscan interest, Perforatella
rubiginosa, a globular hairy snail, was discovered in flood debris by the River Roding at Barking.
This central European species was discovered in Britain in 1981 at Kew, and some uncertainty
remains about its recent native status, although it is known as a Bronze Age sub-fossil.
In early June, Peter Hodge and Roger Key followed up last year's discovery of the Scarlet Malachite
Beetle Malachius aeneus, and located near Little Langley what is probably the largest known British
population: some 500 specimens were noted, mostly sitting in buttercup flowers.
The botanists were also out and about. Hairy Mallow number's atArkesden ran into the thousands,
and despite the application of herbicides on their field edge, many survived to produce seed. Attempts
are ongoing by Plantlife to secure this important population. Record numbers of Red-tipped
Cudweeds at Wrabness were not necessarily a good thing, as all the plants were stunted, and the
population seems to have shifted onto a nearby trackway. The reintroduced Narrow-leaved Cudweed
near Friday Wood declined further, only just avoiding re-extinction, but a search of Arena Essex
suggested that its population of the rare and specially-protected Broad-leaved Cudweed may be
the largest in the country.
Deptford Pink popped up at a new site in the Basildon area, while Pyramidal Orchid was added to
the Langdon Hills orchid list, now 10 species, including such specialities as Bird's-nest, Greater
Butterfly, Autumn Ladies-tresses and most impressive stands of Green-winged. Orchids were also
noted in profusion during a successful search for Shrill Carder-bees on Canvey Island, with Bee,
Common Spotted and Southern Marsh-orchids each numbering hundreds of spikes. Shrill Carder-
bees were noted from early June, but by August this had grown to hundreds, again perhaps the best
site for the species in Britain. Scarce Emerald damselfly was also noted, adding further to the
outstanding wildlife interest of this rather controversial site.
And so to the birds. Long-predicted, the first confirmed reports of breeding Little Egrets came
from a site in the south of the county where up to seven pairs may have nested in association with a
heronry; there was also the suspicion that breeding may have been attempted at a site further north.
Despite the attentions of holiday makers, and thanks to the wardening work of Tendring District
Council, 15 pairs of Little Terns on the beach at Jaywick produced 10 fledged young. And Old Hall
Marshes had one of its most successful breeding seasons ever, no doubt due to the wet spring and
low-intensity grazing: there were five pairs of Garganey, 18 of Gadwall, 30 of Shoveler, 44 of
Pochard, 49 of Avocet, 35 of Redshank and seven of Bearded Tit. Tollesbury Wick also had a
record total of seven pairs of Avocet.
At least four pairs of Common Buzzards were breeding across the county, mostly in the west, and
up to 30 roding Woodcock in Epping Forest was many more than previously supposed. Epping also
produced 13 broods of Mandarin Ducks, while there were seven pairs of Black Redstarts on
Thames-side. There was an unconfirmed report of Black-necked Grebes breeding at one mid-
Essex site.
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)