Wildlife and conservation review 2002
were widespread from mid-month, but there were few further big arrivals until towards the end of
April. Also by mid-month, Wood Anemones were in full, glorious flower in Stour Wood, a display
which was several weeks ahead of that in recent years.
The first Garganey returned early to Walthamstow Reservoir on 3rd, a Green-winged Teal was at
Abberton, and a drake American Wigeon frequented the Cattawade area for much of the month.
Three Water Pipits were in the same area, while three Scandinavian Rock Pipits turned up at
Rainham. The wintering Yellow-browed Warbler remained in Southend until the 8th, and a Siberian
Chiffchaff was seen at Newport sewage farm. The Langenhoe Northern Grey Shrike moved more
permanently to Fingringhoe, thus making it much more accessible, and a single Shore Lark at The
Naze was one of very few anywhere in the country. Offshore, four Harbour Porpoises were reported
16 miles off Clacton: small numbers were seen in the area and also in the Blackwater Estuary for
much of the summer.
From early in the year, mothing activities had taken a considerable leap forward with the publication
of Volume 4 of Moths & Butterflies of Great Britain & Ireland, by the Essex-based Harley
Books, edited by the late, great Maitland Emmet. For the first time, several key families of micros
such as the Gelechiidae were brought into the realm of the average mother. And in Essex, the study
of moths took a further step with the establishment of the Essex Moth Group e-mail newsgroup.
This allowed much more immediate dissemination of important records than in the past, and spurred
ever more members into taking the 'micro challenge'. Furthermore, the increasing use and circulation
of digital images helped to sort out identification problems without the need always to take specimens.
The benefits were soon apparent with news of the second county record of Caloptilia populetorum,
and our first records of Dotted Chestnut. Omer reports from southern counties at the time suggest
that the lattci" may have been part of an influx from the Continent, or dispersal from its Surrey
headquarters, rather than an indication of previously-unrecorded colonies.
Other information also got circulated in this way, including a report from Andrew Halstead,
entomologist with the Royal Horticultural Society, who told us of a new sawfly for Britain he had
been sent from Church Langley, near Harlow. It is Arge berberidis, and has been defoliating Berberis
thunbergii at this location, probably since 2000.
Although it was not a particularly productive month in my moth trap, I did reach a personal milestone
as my garden Lepidoptera list reached 800 species, with the confirmation by Brian Goodey of a
specimen of Agonopterix yeatiana from 2001. And furthermore our house/garden bird list saw
Little Egret elevated to the 'seen from the house list" from its previous status of 'could have been
seen and identified from the house had we been there'. Yes, even we professional conservationists
take pleasures from listing!
Back to more serious issues, a British Ornithologists' Union conference looked at the impacts of
climate change on birds, and added academic emphasis to recent observation. Our estuarine birds
are not migrating so far west or south as in the past. The estuaries of the south-west are seeing
fewer birds - 'their' birds are remaining with us. But on the other hand, Purple Sandpipers are now
staying further north, especially in Scotland, and are becoming increasingly difficult to find here in
Essex.
A Private Member's Bill (the 'Randall Bill') on marine wildlife conservation reached the House
of Commons. The intention was to significantly raise the degree of protection afforded to marine
habitats and species. Unfortunately, when it got to the Upper House, it was scuppered by a handful
of Lords, acting it appears on behalf of the ports industry. Not a good example of working together
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)