Wildlife and Conservation Review of 2001
The mild autumn weather certainly had a marked influence on our wildlife, with the early emergence
of spring plants, and most remarkably apparent extra broods of spring moths, both Common
Quaker and Hebrew Character being recorded. A number of immigrant moths appeared in the
traps, with several Vestals and Gems, a Blair's Mocha at Thundersley, and a wonderful Bloxworth
Snout caught by Gerry Slater in Little Oakley, a new species for Essex. Butterflies too performed
well during the month; especially on 13lh there was a distinct southward coastal re-migration of
Red Admirals. The largest number (350) of these was seen at Landguard (Suffolk), heading over
the Stour into Essex, while at the same time, large numbers were recorded throughout southern
England and northern France. Movement continued even when the weather was overcast, as long
as the temperature remained above 15°C.
Fungi too responded well to the mild weather. The annual CNHS foray to Epping Forest proved
difficult, given torrential rain, but still 78 species were recorded, including good showings of Oyster
Mushroom, Artist's Fungus and Cantharellus infundibuliformis. Grassland fungi appeared to
respond particularly well, with lots of waxcaps, earth-tongues, club-fungi and coral-fungi
especially in mid-Essex churchyards. Some are so good as to be of at least regional importance,
including several with record fruitings of Hygrocybe calyptriformis. Long considered to be a rare
species, and so included in the UK BAP, not atypically more intensive surveys are now showing
this species to be more frequent than previously thought; nevertheless, it remains a good indicator
of important waxcap meadows. Elsewhere, Stephen Westover was investigating TPO trees at
Writtle and came upon a Turkey Oak in a poor state of health. The cause? An unfamiliar bracket
fungus which was later identified at Inonotus cuticularis, apparently a scarce (or at least rarely-
seen) fungus which fruited prolifically across southern England this autumn.
Following the launch of the Great Nut Hunt, an event was organised by the CNHS at Hill House
Wood, West Bergholt. 1156 eaten hazelnuts were located, of which 1061 were the work of Grey
Squirrels, 54 eaten by Wood/Yellow-necked Mice, 21 by Bank Voles, 16 were unidentifiable, and
just 4 possibly eaten by Dormice. But as they say, negative (or near-negative) results in such
surveys are as important as positive ones. Few mammalogists were out and about in Essex on the
20th, however, when Southend Borough Council hosted a conference entitled Essex Mammals in
the New Millennium. It was well-attended, and the audience was treated to an array of good speakers
on all aspects of our oftcn-ovcrlookcd mammal fauna.
October is one of the crossroads of the bird year, with autumn migration still in full swing, while
the signs of the coming winter become ever more obvious. Migrants included Common Rosefinch,
Dusky Warbler, Richard's Pipit, 5 Firecrests and 3 Belgian-ringed Long-tailed Tits at The
Naze; 2 Grey Phalaropes in the Lee Valley; a Garganey at Cornmill Meadows; Yellow-browed
Warbler and eastern-race (samamiscus) Redstart at Holland Haven; a Red-backed Shrike on
Thames-side; and best of all potentially the first Essex Pallid Swift over Cudmore Grove on 17th.
Ring Ouzels popped up at a number of locations, but sea-watching was disappointing after the last
month, with just a Pomarine Skua, Sabine's Gull and up to 13 Mediterranean Gulls off Southend.
The two Ring-billed Gulls remained faithful to the Thames, and a further American, a Lesser
Yellovvlegs, showed well at Cattawade. Another bird of North American origin was a Snowy Owl
which arrived at Felixstowe Dock at the end of the month. Given the security around the port,
access was not possible, so the twitchers decamped to Harwich sea-front, to catch a glimpse across
the Harbour. When views of less than 2km later became possible, it was seen to be oiled, and it
transpired that it was likely to have been one of a group of 50 or so which joined a ship sailing from
Canada, even though the ship in question did not dock in the UK. Possibly the most renowned
American import, Ruddy Duck, continued to be seen in large numbers, with a peak of 330 at
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)
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