Wildlife and Conservation Review of 2000
One of the notable features of November's birds was the absence of any reports of the Forster's
Tern: after being sighted in Essex almost continuously for perhaps as long as two years, first around
Hamford Water, then in the Tollesbury and Mersea area, it seems finally to have departed these
shores. But who knows? - it may return. If it is erroneously oriented on this side of the Atlantic, it
could well be a feature of future reports. But American vagrants were far from absent, with the male
Canvasback returning to Abberton Reservoir and two Ring-billed Gulls by the Thames. Brent
Geese were of course back in force, with up to 4,000 of the Dark-bellied race at Old Hall, along
with single Pale-bellied Brent and Black Brant. Other, or perhaps the same. Black Brant were seen
also at Colne Point and Cudmore Grove. Old Hall Marshes also drew in Golden Plover in large
numbers, the peak count being some 4,300. Avocets have long been increasing on the Thames,
Colne and Hamford Water, and 115 at Coopers Creek on the Blackwater may be a sign of further
establishment, in line of course with the increasingly widely distributed breeding sites. Late records
included a Whinchat at Fairlop and a Red-necked Phalarope at Old Hall. A Bittern put in a
surprise appearance around Colchester Hythe lagoons, presumably a Continental migrant, but the
best that could be said of the White Pelican at Fairlop was that it was 'of dubious origin'. Waxwings,
amongst the favourite of winter visitors, were here, but in very small numbers, with singles at
Dagenham Chase and Waltham Abbey. Finally, back to the coastal marshes, Short-eared Owls
were once again remarkable by their scarcity, with just three each at Tollesbury Wick and Rainham.
Moving into December, Waxwing numbers increased a little, reflecting the large numbers further
north, but they proved very flighty and hard to track down, but Shore Larks were very few in
number, with just three at Colne Point and one at Wakering Stairs. A Siberian Chiffchaff (currently
a race, but considered by some to merit specific status) was trapped at Bradwell. Otherwise the main
news was of water birds. Up to 14 Black-necked Grebes and a Common Scoter graced William
Girling Reservoir, and four Smew were in the Lee Valley. A Caspian Gull, another potential Herring
Gull split, was on the University of Essex lake, and at sea there was a wide spread of Great Northern
Divers (Southend, Blackwater and two off The Naze) and six Slavonian Grebes also on the
Blackwater. Bringing the bird year to a close, a pair of Dartford Warblers frequented Colne Point,
and the north Essex Little Egret roost grew to an unprecedented 50 birds.
In light of recent events - floods (widely attributed to the effects of global warming) and fuel blockades
(the burning of fossil fuel being a major contributor of climate-changing emissions) - a meeting of
the world's Environment Ministers at The Hague had a particular resonance. The purpose of the
meeting was to agree how to meet the targets for reduction in emissions previously 'agreed' at
Kyoto. Sadly, the talks collapsed without agreement, despite John Prescott's best efforts to forge a
solution. It appears that a significant factor in the failure of the talks was the unwillingness of the US
delegation to make a positive contribution to the process, a stance which was comprehensively
underlined in 2001 when incoming President George W Bush stated that the USA would not even
try to meet the targets, in order to maintain economic competitiveness and hence global supremacy.
For my final commentary on the year, I will focus upon what may well prove to be the lasting
legacy of 2000 to wildlife and conservation: the Countryside & Rights of Way Act. Given Royal
Assent on 30th November, it represents the most significant conservation legislation for 20 years,
building on and improving the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Parts of the Act relate to access,
including new access provisions on to mountain, moor, heath and down - the 'right to roam' as it has
been dubbed, somewhat inaccurately. These provisions will have some impacts on wildlife interests
- increased access will give improved opportunities for naturalists but may put additional pressures
on vulnerable species and habitats, although there are safeguards in this respect - but in Essex those
effects are likely to be minimal. Put simply, there is very little land which falls into the access
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)