Wildlife and Conservation Review of 2001
only to be negated by cold snaps and heavy rain later on.
As far as rare birds are concerned, June continued the May theme of raptors, with a Red Kite over
Holyfield and a Red-footed Falcon near Colchester. There were also a number of near misses
around the southern and western fringes of the county, where Cranes were seen at Birchanger and
the Isle of Dogs, while at Rainham. Little Egrets increased to a record 8 birds. An unprecedented
influx of more than 30 Rose-coloured Starlings to Britain may just have impinged upon Essex:
one was seen flying south over Landguard Point, but it was not spotted on our side of the water.
Another irruptive species, the Crossbill, did appear - here in small numbers, predicted as the precursor
of a major invasion which sadly did not come to much, and a very unseasonable Scaup turned up
on Walthamstow Reservoir. In respect of scarce breeding species, Firecrests were singing in Epping
Forest, Ongar Park Woods and Havering Country Park; a pair of Black-necked Grebes built two
nests, and were later seen with well-grown young, on a private water near Chelmsford; a healthy 12
pairs of Stonechats were at Rainham, where there were two successful pairs of Garganey and a
Wheatear was also seen in likely looking habitat. With the site now under RSPB management,
they are clearly doing great things, with also 42 pairs of Dabchick (perhaps a fifth of the Essex
total), and around 500 Reed Warbler territories. We can look forward with considerable optimism
to the future development of wetland wildlife in this wonderful remnant of the Thames grazing
marshes.
Especially early in the month, July was warm and sultry, with thundery spells, one of which on the
6th resulted in an exceptional downpour of more than 20mm of rain. At the end of the month,
temperatures rose still further in a short-lived heatwave. Such conditions are very conducive to
insects, both locally breeding species and immigrants, and this month produced some excellent
records. On 5th July there was a marked emergence (or immigration?) of Red Admirals in
particular, pushing thoughts of a bleak June into the back of the mind. White Admirals performed
relatively poorly at their traditional Stour Wood site, but one was seen for the first time in several
years at Weeleyhall Wood, and a healthy five individuals were counted at their relatively new site
in Friday Woods. Here they were seen sparring with Banded Demoiselles, a damselfly which
seemed to be more widely dispersed than usual, especially in and around Colchester, often well
away from suitable breeding habitat. They were even numerous on the Colne at the Hythe, where
the river is still tidal and scmi-salinc. Two butterfly records raised eyebrows - a Map at Hainault
and a Swallowtail at Coryton. Both must be tainted with the tag of 'probable releases', though
given the similar report of a Map at Hainault last August, it may be that this species is now breeding
with us. But where did they come from originally? Deliberate release must be suspected (this
species has a history of such actions, which have all died out eventually), but given that it is a native
species right up to the Channel coast of France, it may be suggested as a potential colonist under a
scenario of global warming. It is not however known to be a migratory or significantly dispersive
species, unlike several other butterflies and many moths. Although there were no large numbers of
immigrant moths, a Bedstraw Hawk-moth found its way to Mashbury (the only Essex contribution
to a significant national arrival), and Chris Balchin caught a Hoary Footman at Wix, an Essex
first. It is presumed to have been a wanderer, at least from breeding areas in Kent if not further
afield.
A search duly took place at Dovercourt to try and find evidence of breeding Toadflax Brocades, in
light of the recent spate of records. It drew a blank, but ample compensation came in the form of a
Buttoned Snout larva in our garden hedge, the first confirmation of breeding in the area. There
were also two records of Olive Crescent away from its sole known breeding locality, at least one
of which can only have been an immigrant or a substantial wanderer.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)
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