Wildlife and conservation review 2002
for a sustainable future, especially in the context of a WWF report which estimated that under the
Common Fisheries Policy, the EU fleet is operating at 40% above sustainable capacity. And marine
wildlife does not have just overexploitation to worry about -recently published research indicated
the susceptibility of Cod larvae to UV light (thus raising the spectre of damage from ozone thinning)
and the vulnerability of cetaceans to sonar and other underwater noise. Staying with Government,
the House of Commons voted by a large majority to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales.
There were of course dissenting voices, and the Lords pushed for a middle way, a compromise
licensed hunting scheme. And it did raise the question again as to whether it is a nature conservation
issue, or simply a question of morality?
Another tricky area of public policy is nuclear power. The end of the month was the end of an era:
the closure of Bradwell Power Station after 40 years. In its heyday it had an output capacity of
242 MW, providing enough power for Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend together, and this was
achieved without burning fossil fuels and contributing to climate change, and without significant
untoward incident. But now comes the legacy, a long-term commitment to safe decommissioning.
Defuelling will take three years, followed by partial demolition, radioactive waste storage and
removal. It is anticipated that staff numbers will dwindle through natural wastage, such that in ten
years it will be unmanned. Then in perhaps a hundred years, the last stages of decommissioning -
final demolition and reuse - but what of the interim? If nothing else it is likely to form a long-term
wildlife refuge.
The lovely spring weather of March continued through April, at least until the final week and a
thundery breakdown. Near-drought conditions for farmers and gardeners were alleviated only by
the recognition that our reservoirs were still almost full. Temperatures touched 25°C as early as the
3rd, but generally the heat was tempered along the coast by easterly breezes. As in March, the month
was noted for early blooming, and early emergences of Odonata and some other insects, although
butterflies were relatively sparse - the overwinterers had died off and not yet been replaced.
Lingering wintering bird interest included the Siberian Chiffchaff at Newport, a Great Northern
Diver at Abberton and a very late Smew at Hanningfield, but it was migrants which made the news,
White-spotted Bluethroat at Holland Haven (27th), Black Kite near Colchester (23rd) and Marsh
Sandpiper at Two Tree Island being the rarest. A large number of Whimbrel, peaking at 72 birds,
passed through Old Hall, and a good run of water birds moving up through the Lee Valley included
Kittiwake, Black-tailed Godwit and Arctic Tern. Wood Warblers popped up in several places,
including one in song at Enfield, while Cetti's Warblers were at Wat Tyler (2) and Great Wakering.
Sadly, May rather bucked the weather trend - it was changeable, often wet, especially the latter
half of the month, after a mini-heatwave which saw temperatures up to 27°C. Mist and fog were an
cvcr-prcscnt feature along the coast early in the month, and severe storms led to several reports of
waterspouts on the Stour. The poor weather slowed down Odonata emergence, at least until a rise
in temperatures in mid-month, which brought on a real flurry. On the 19th, at Wake Valley Pond,
there were the first Downy Emeralds, plus lots of the common damsels, Hairy Dragons and Four-
spotted Chasers. Mid-month also saw a precocious emergence of Large Skippers (13th), some
weeks ahead of schedule.
As usual, several scarce migrant birds appeared, mainly brought in on southerly airflows, including
a good fall of Black Terns, Black Stork over Newport and Great White Egrets, three at Holland
Haven on 11th, with one at Harwich the following day. These were a long-awaited county first,
and part of a multiple arrival nationally - it seems that they may be following in the footsteps of the
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)
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