Wildlife and conservation review 2003
Skuas constituted the seabird interest, in addition to a new Caspian Gull on the inner Thames. A
late Pallas's Warbler was found at the Naze on the 5th, and a eouple of Black Brants settled in to Old
Hall Marsh. As far as waders were concerned, there was a substantial inland movement of Avocets
in East Anglia, including 23 at Hanningfield and 10 at Abberton Reservoir.
Amid much speculation. Lord Haskins published his review of rural policy delivery during the
month. Media reports talked of the 'abolition of English Nature', though some of the most worrying
claims were refuted by the man himself: 'English Nature should he strengthened and its remit
widened', 'There is a good case for using English Nature as the body on which to build the new
Agency', and 'I am entirely in favour of English Nature's role as a provider of independent advice'
were just some of his published statements. But there were still those who maintained a less rosy
view: Tom Burke likened it to 'the biodiversity police being taken over by the agricultural MAFFia'.
Whatever, it seems likely there will be changes, much of it necessary and desirable, and we await
the Government's response with interest.
December saw a continuation of changeable weather, with almost average temperatures and amounts
of rainfall. High pressure in mid-month brought a series of very cold nights, followed by northerlies
and a little snow just before Christmas, although over the festive season itself, mild and damp was
the watchword. But whenever the sun did corne out, so appeared the bumblebees, something which
was almost unknown a few years ago.
A few Waxwings arrived (though rather fewer than in Suffolk and Norfolk) to devour the remaining
berries; more than 50 Snow Buntings were at Old Hall; and a Great Grey Shrike was in the Kelvedon
area. Up to 10 Firecrests could be seen around Weald Park, and a Penduline Tit inhabited the
reedbeds in the Lee Valley, while a Great Northern Diver on the Essex Arena Pits provided easy
viewing.
Fungi continued to appear: Mary Smith reported a fine display of the Magpie Coprinus picaceus
in Belhus Woods, more numerous and some two months later than usual. And to underline a fine
year for our native wildlife, another Grey Seal pup was produced in the Walton Backwaters.
But here in Essex, we are never far from big developments which could threaten our natural scene.
The plans for airport expansion were announced in the Aviation White Paper. Thankfully, the
development of new airports (including Cliffe) was ruled out, but a new runway at Stansted was
supported, within a massively enlarged perimeter fence, to handle perhaps up to four times the
currently permitted 25 million passenger per annum. Yes, this will cause habitat loss and disruption
to local people and places such as Hatfield Forest, but if it must go ahead we will be seeking to
maximise the wildlife value of the area within the fence, away from the myriads of munching
Muntjacs.
Around the same time, the Round 2 Offshore Wind Farm licences were issued. Off Essex, these
were for an extension to the already-permitted (though not yet developed) Gunfleet Sands site; a
new area off Harwich called the Greater Gabbard; and a huge area in the heart of the Greater
Thames to take around 300 turbines, termed the London Array. If nothing else, the need for these
proposals to be subject to Environmental Impact Assessment will lead to a huge leap in our knowledge
of the wildlife in these areas, far from the sight of land.
Finally, English Nature published its long-awaited assessment of the condition of the7% of our
countryside protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Taken as a whole, some 58% of
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)