Wildlife and Conservation Review of 2001
summer species. Migrants were still passing through (eg Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in
Epping Forest, and Siberian Chiffchaff at Dagenham Chase), but the most interesting reports
were of winter species. At Old Hall, Brent Geese peaked at 2675 (plus a Black Brant) and Golden
Plover at 3100, while at the end of the month a Dartford Warbler appeared, continuing the recent
upsurge of Essex records, perhaps related to their recolonisation of the Suffolk Sandlings. At
Mucking. Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits peaked at 464 and 386 respectively, while inland, 7
Shags found their way to Hanningfield Reservoir. Four Long-tailed Ducks were seen on the sea at
Harwich, and 4 Shore Larks were at Frinton, while the Northern Grey Shrike remained at
Langenhoe, albeit visible only from a considerable distance outside the MoD Range. Nationally,
there was a major influx of Little Auks into the North Sea, driven by strong northerlies; the
largest numbers were seen as far south as Flamborough Head, but a few struggled down to our
shores, including 12 off Clacton and 2 at Old Hall. And originating from similar high Arctic regions,
mid-month brought a Bearded Seal to Walton. The inst Essex record, it beached and was taken
into care.
Clearly, as exemplified by this month's reports of Portuguese Man-o'-War, Bearded Seal and Little
Auks, there are still many mysteries associated with our open seas. Partly because there is little
observation by naturalists away from the immediate inshore zone, and partly because much of the
interest remains hidden by the water, the case for marine conservation has not been made especially
forcibly in the past. In November, however, a Private Members Bill was introduced into Parliament,
to try and strengthen the protection of important areas for marine wildlife in British waters. It
is not clear whether it will succeed and become law, nor how some of the issues would be addressed
in practice, but it does help to raise awareness of our hidden riches.
The abnormally mild weather naturally triggered muchmedia conjecture about global climate change.
While there can be no doubt that it is happening, and that it is a result, in part at least, of emissions
to the atmosphere, there is still much to learn about the likely magnitude of future change, and the
effects of those changes on Britain. It is the role of the UK Climate Impacts Programme to arrive
at such predictions, and a key component of the programme - the MONARCH report (Modelling
Natural Resources Responses to Climate Change) - was published in November. This examined the
likely effects of various climate change scenarios on selected species and habitats. The results are
pretty generalised, but the report docs make some more specific predictions. One such for Essex is
that we are likely to see significantly reduced moisture availability between March and October,
especially worrying as our climate is already on the cusp of semi-aridity.
Given that we cannot hope to prevent climate change in the short to medium term, our wildlife will
find itself in the wrong place. This view has led some to question the future role of nature reserves,
which may become little more than unsustainable time capsules. However, that is of course to
ignore the potential for nature reserves to be, in effect, 'Arks of Biodiversity', and in due course to
be interconnected and linked by more sustainable agricultural and development practices. So it is
very pleasing to note that the owners of nature reserves are not simply giving up - highlighted
this month by the official opening of the National Trust's new and improved visitor facilities at
Hatfield Forest. The improvements include new toilets, cafe, classrooms, information room and
car park, all of which will enhance the experience of visitors to this unique site. And it will hopefully
help to draw a line under s very difficult couple of years for the site, first with the Jumbo j et crash,
and then FMD closures, both of which cost the Trust dearly.
The mild and dry weather just kept going, right through the first two weeks of December, before
winter came in with a vengeance, including hard frosts (to -5°C) and light snow falls (though not
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)
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