Essex Field Club on Facebook

Visit Our Centre

EFC Centre at Wat Tyler Country ParkOur centre is available for visits on a pre-booked basis on Wednesdays between 10am - 4pm. The Club’s activities and displays are also usually open to the public on the first Saturday of the month 11am - 4pm.

About us


Video about the Club Essex Field Club video

registered charity
no 1113963
HLF Logo A-Z Page Index

Your Forum

This forum has now been more or less replaced by the Club's Facebook page at
Essex Field Club on Facebook




The weblog below is for naturalists to use to report interesting sightings, ask questions, report on field meetings and generally post pictures and any information or questions generally relevant in some way to the wildlife and geology of Essex. You will need to register and be logged-on to post to the forum, and you need to upload pictures first, for use in posts. Find out more


Wed 21st December 2011 00:05 by Michael Daniels
Success for conservation, or is it?
I suspect that most EFC people dedicated to preserving our flora and fauna, will welcome the news that the otter is successfully re-establishing itself in habitats it once occupied across the country before various factors lead to its serious decline. 

But is that news all good I wonder.

Near us in Holland-on-Sea we have a watercourse, its known as Holland Brook and it is just that, nothing approaching what could be described as a river.  Nevertheless, it does contain a reasonable head of fish, the usual species and anglers appear to find it worthy of their attention.  Just been reported that an otter has made its appearance.  We all understand that the otter is a very efficient predator, particularly feasting on fish, crustacea and mollusca. I just wonder just how long it will take this mammal to clear out this local faunal population.  Also I hear another piece of disturbing news that someone has lost their Koy Carp from their garden pond....'Tarka' the suspected raider and hardly surprising if this intelligent animal is the culprit.

After the recent meeting at the Wat Tyler Centre, journeying back to Tendring on the A12, we got into a tail back that we understand was due to an accident.  Diverted through Kelvedon and Coggeshall, this seriously delayed us getting back to Thorpe where David our driver resides.  He keeps chickens and after our departure for Clacton, he soon became aware of commotion in his garden.  It was quickly apparent what had occurred, Mr. Fox had got amongst his fowls and managed to kill fifteen of his hens, all just coming into lay.  Home on time he would have been able secure his free range birds for the night, but ill luck for him rather spoilt his pleasure, and ours too when informed, of that successful special club event.

Not surprising the fox has gained a very bad reputation amongst farmers and poultry-keepers. My concern is that not too far in the furture the otter will all attract similar bad feelings.  That's where conservation can produce side effects that could hardly be universally applauded.

link
 

Archives:

May 2020
Aug 2019
Jan 2019
Sep 2018
Jul 2016
Oct 2015
Jul 2015
May 2015
Apr 2015
Mar 2015
Feb 2015
Jan 2015
Dec 2014
Oct 2014
Sep 2014
Aug 2014
Jul 2014
May 2014
Apr 2014
Mar 2014
Feb 2014
Jan 2014
Dec 2013
Nov 2013
Sep 2013
Aug 2013
Jul 2013
Jun 2013
May 2013
Apr 2013
Mar 2013
Feb 2013
Jan 2013
Dec 2012
Nov 2012
Oct 2012
Sep 2012
Aug 2012
Jul 2012
Jun 2012
May 2012
Apr 2012
Mar 2012
Feb 2012
Jan 2012
Dec 2011
Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
Dec 2010
Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
Dec 2007
Nov 2007

current posts