Wildlife and Conservation Review of 2001
March is of course a very significant month for birdwatchers, as it sees the arrival of the first main
wave of our much-loved summer migrants. Despite the weather, 2001 was no exception, and
significant early arrivals included Sand Martin (9th - Lee Valley), Whinchat (20th - Shoeburyness),
Sandwich Tern (24th - Southend), House Martin (24th - East Tilbury), Tree Pipit (29th - Maldon)
and Yellow Wagtail (30th - Fingringhoe Wick). Along with these there were some scarcer birds,
most notably White-spotted Bluethroats (part of a significant national influx) at Canvey on 17th
(when there was also one at Landguard, Suffolk) and a long-staying individual at Gunners Park,
Shoebury. The latter was very confiding and much admired by twitchers, who also found a Serin,
which remained into April. Otherwise, there were still up to 44 Waxwings at Vange, and now two
Ring-billed Gulls at Westcliff, the old faithful being joined by a first-winter bird.
A very positive event in March was the presentation to Chico Duncan (Ministry of Defence) of an
English Nature SSSI Award, in recognition of his restoration of Langenhoe Marsh (see plate 3)
for coastal wildlife over the past five years. This has been achieved largely through raising water
levels, restoring the drainage channels, and removing encroaching scrub, all at relatively low cost.
Furthermore it has benefited the use of the area as a live firing range by reducing fire risk - a true
win-win situation.
It is very sad to report though that Essex lost yet another of its stalwart naturalists, when Maitland
Emmett died on 3rd March, just a week after his enthusiastic attendance at the annual meeting of
the Essex Moth Group. Readers of the Essex Naturalist will have seen excellent tributes to him by
Brian Goodey over the past three years: suffice so say he will be sorely missed in Essex, and indeed
nationally and internationally, such was his expertise and reputation in the study of microlepidoptera.
During April, the unsettled and generally poor weather continued - it was the wettest and coldest
for a decade, the only respite being on the 2nd when daytime temperatures rose to 21 °C. A couple of
frosty nights were also the exception, as typically night minima were around 5°C. The poor weather
certainly made its mark upon the insects: in my garden moth trap I was recording often only 5-10
moths of 3-4 species per night, a very poor performance in comparison with previous years.
However, prospects were a little better for some of our migrant birds, as the returnees continued to
dribble in: some such as Swallows and Whitethroats were in good numbers, while others such as
House Martin and Wheatear seemed very scarce. Such differences may reflect the conditions on
different wintering grounds and/or migration routes. The Naze produced several Firecrests, with
Ring Ouzel and Wryneck, and Holland Haven both Richard's Pipit and Ashy-headed Wagtail.
A migrant Rough-legged Buzzard was seen over Pitsea, and a Goshawk at West Thurrock, while
Slavonian Grebes in then smart breeding dress appeared at Wat Tyler Country Park and in the Lee
Valley.
The eleventh and last reported Essex case of FMD was found in goats at Canewdon on 12th. By
now, although the epidemic was still raging elsewhere in Britain, the local situation seemed to be
improving, raising hopes especially among the tourism sector that some of the access restrictions
could be lifted, preferably in time for Easter. The feeling was growing that the restrictions were
excessively draconian; damaging to the economy; and had been imposed without good scientific
justification. In the event, access restrictions were partially lifted on April 24th: many footpaths
were reopened, so that rather than being closed unless indicated as open, the default became that
they were open unless signed as closed. What a pity the weather was not so accommodating!
The remaining Essex infected area status (Canewdon) was lifted at the end of the month, though
not without one final drama. Just before the proposed lifting, two sheep out of a flock of 1600
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)
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