Wildlife and conservation review 2002
Little Egret, as has been widely predicted following increases in France and the Low Countries.
From a contrasting westerly direction, single Lesser Yellowlegs and Ring-necked Duck appeared
at Old Hall. As far as breeding birds were concerned, the Black-headed Gull colony at Hamford
Water was washed out twice in the month by high tides, and in the same area, in an attempt to
control the spread of large predatory gulls (Herring and Lesser Black-backed), Wildfowlers located
617 nests and pricked the eggs. This is fewer than last year, and so may be showing signs of
success.
Colchester Natural History Society carried out the latest of then regular counts of Green-winged
Orchids at Oxley Meadows, and showed a conti nuing i ncrease. from 4607 in 1992, 10082 in 1994,
11372 in 1998,16408 in 2000, to 25578 this year, testament to the success of EWT's management
of the site. Alresford Sand & Ballast, based near Colchester, won a prestigious award - the Quarry
Products Association top restoration award - in a national competition, for their restoration of Villa
Farm Quarry into a nature conservation area. And Dovercourt retained its European Blue Flag, to
be joined this year by two of Southend's bathing beaches. Most positive of all, the end of the
Rainham saga seems finally to be in sight, as Havering Council announced its intention to withdraw
its development aspirations for their part of the site.
Of course, all was not rosy everywhere. Anchor Field, Thurrock (between Lakeside and the late,
lamented Mill Wood Pit) came to notice following its proposed inclusion in the next Local Plan as
housing land. With his customary efficiency, Peter Harvey found numerous rare and scarce
invertebrates on the site, including Ceratina cyanea, Lasioglossum xanthopus, and the RDB fly
Dorycera graminum, the latter in vast numbers, suggesting it forms a valuable greenfield grassland
remnant. Will we ever be able to stop chasing development and secure a studied, strategic platform
upon which to protect this crucial part of our biodiversity?
Summer
June began hot, though this soon broke down in a series of thunderstorms, leaving unsettled, low-
pressure conditions for much of the month. The turbulent weather produced several national bird
influxes, including Bee-eaters (culminating in the widely reported third British breeding record in
County Durham) and record numbers of Rose-coloured Starlings, including a couple in Essex.
Five Spoonbills turned up at Rainham, Red-backed Shrikes at Colne Point and Old Hall, White
Stork over Abberton, Purple Heron in Hamford Water and there was a good spread of Montagu's
Harriers across the county, especially in coastal districts. Hummingbird Hawk-moths started to
appear, and remained a relatively common feature until September.
The famous inland breeding Cormorant colony at Abberton declined yet again to 322 apparently
occupied nests, more than 10% down in just two years, and the lowest number since the building
phase of the colony in 1988. What is wrong, if anything, is not known - it could be food supply in
the nearby Blackwater; poor breeding site condition, with trees dying as a result of guano fouling;
or simply a redistribution to other breeding sites, which are now springing up around the country.
Better news from Hamford Water, the Black-headed Gulls eventually succeeded, with 7461 pairs,
plus 4 pairs of Mediterranean Gulls.
National Moth Night was on 15th June, and again proved successful, despite unfavourable weather.
Data were received from 458 sites nationally, including 39 from Essex. VCs 18 and 19 produced
156 and 239 species respectively, the latter figure exceeded only by South Hants (244), East Kent
(262) and East Norfolk (267). And my own garden, with just one trap taking 92 species, proved the
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)