Wildlife and conservation review 2003
and Buglife, put their development plans on hold, allowing time for further survey work of the
unique invertebrate assemblage and to develop a sustainable solution to its re-development. By the
end of the year its value had been well and truly confirmed: its Invertebrate Index (a means of
assessing its value for rare species) was demonstrated to be probably the second-highest of any
site, natural, semi-natural or man-made, in the UK, surpassed only by Dungeness. And the
sustainable development solution had been reached: EEDA withdrew the major part of their
development plans, restricting them to just 8.5 hectares on the least valuable part of the site in
biodiversity terms. The remainder is planned to become a nature reserve, managed by, for and with
the people of Canvey Island, one which it is hoped will become an example to all of how to value
and manage a brownfield site for biodiversity, a very important message given the scale of
development (targeted on previously-developed land) proposed for the Thames Gateway and the
other growth areas of the south-east. Furthermore, it was agreed that the developed area itself
would be designed to further biodiversity objectives, by ensuring the buildings are designed to the
highest standards of sustainablilty, and features such as the landscaping will be designed to
complement the wildlife features of the adjacent nature reserve.
The March drought broke briefly on the lst April, and there was even a sprinkling of snow on the
10th, but the hot, dry conditions soon reasserted themselves, with temperatures peaking at around
25°C. Unsurprisingly, this led to a number of wildfires, especially in the London fringe, although
nothing of the magnitude of the forest and peat fires further north. In some parts of the uplands, it
was suspected that the fires were set deliberately to destroy the nests and habitat of Hen Harriers
and other raptors which are accused of damaging Red Grouse stocks.
The glorious spring saw an early start to the season for Odonata, the first report being of a Large
Red Damselfly at Cornmill Meadows on the 18th, a pattern which was repeated around the countiy.
Similarly, the butterfly and bumblebee seasons got off to a flying start. Unfortunately, though, the
weather on National Moth Night (April 12th) was not ideal, in some places producing a ground
frost; nevertheless, vice-county 19 (North Essex) produced a very respectable total of 3 8 species,
surpassed only by four favoured south coast vice-counties and, perhaps more unexpectedly, West
Lancashire.
Remaining with the insects, a group of specialist coleopterists visited Shoebury Ranges, searching
for the endangered click beetle Melanotus punctolineatus. Many larvae and a single dead adult
were duly located; it was last recorded in the Southend area in 1860. It now appears to be more
frequent at this site than at its only other known UK location, in Kent.
Spring is always an exciting time for birds, and this month was no exception. A drake American
Wigeon was spotted at Cattawade, mirroring a similar occurrence in 2002, perhaps involving the
same bird. Keeping eyes skyward paid off for some observers, with Black Kites over Brentwood
and Shoeburyness, Osprey and Goshawk at Abberton, and Montagu's Harrier at Bradwell, while
two White Storks (possibly of captive origin) flew over Clacton. Single birds of the latter species
were also seen at Maldon and Brentwood. Also from southern climes, a Great White Egret was on
the Dengie Peninsula, while a Red-rumped Swallow graced Hanningfield Reservoir, our
contribution to a large national influx, and an Alpine Swift was seen at Fairlop Water. A Dotterel
paused on its northward migration at Steeple, and, as if to remind us of the winter so recently
departed, there were a few lingering Waxwings throughout the month. At least 4 Cetti's Warblers
were singing around the county, and on the 28"', Common Swifts returned in force.
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)