With an average temperature in England of 10.94C, above 10 degrees for the first time ever, and a record peak of 40.3C (at Coningsby in Lincolnshire in July), the Met Office declared 2022 to be the hottest year on record.
The lack of cold weather in the first winter period meant no significant influxes of birds from the continent. Compared with the previous year, there were no blocking conditions and spring migrants appeared on cue. It was good to see more House Martins around after last year’s apparent absence and hopefully they bred around Heybridge.
Sadly, none of the recently lost breeders reappeared (Willow Warbler/ Meadow Pipit/ Redshank) and there was one more to add to this list in 2022. For the first time that anyone can remember, no Turtle Doves were found holding a territory on the patch. (There have still been reports from elsewhere in Maldon District, including several at Lauriston Farm, just east of Goldhanger). Garden Warblers were only recorded from their regular site along the canal, a short distance downstream from Langford waterworks. Another species thinning out is Sedge Warbler- we should perhaps take more effort to count them. Reed Warblers, in contrast, are seemingly almost everywhere where there are reeds, which, in turn, are spreading everywhere. There continue to be one or two pairs of Reed Warblers around the Marine Lake in the Prom Park and Cetti’s Warbler is often heard there too.
Some positive news is that there were excellent numbers of singing Nightingales in the Hazeleigh/ Maldon Wick complex, including 12-16 at Hazeleigh Wood and as many as 6 along Maldon Wick and the interconnecting tree belt between the Wick and Hazeleigh Wood, as well as one or two others nearby. Nightingale was also recorded breeding at Lofts Farm for the first time in recent memory.
Another positive was that Tony Kennelly’s patch coverage in the fields south of Limebrook Way demonstrated that the hedgerows/ treelines there still provide sufficiently good habitat to support breeding Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings and Yellow Wagtail. Tony’s efforts were further rewarded when he found a Quail calling from a barley field at the start of July.
The rookery by Morrisons held at least 25 nests and there were one or two more nests further along Limebrook Way near the junction with Keeble Park. At least one pair of Cattle Egrets bred at Chigborough EWT again. They remain very secretive however- unfortunately they no longer nest in view from the footpath on the other side of the lake. Gadwall also bred somewhere around the reserve. We generally only see the broods once they are almost full grown and swimming about the main lake. Bearded Tits bred again at Heybridge Pits. Jackdaws seem to be moving in, with more birds seen at low level and on rooftops around the town.
New invertebrates continue to colonise and spread. Wall Brown butterflies were recorded from three different locations. It was good to see Silver-washed Fritillaries on the wing again at Hazeleigh Wood, after a poor year for them in 2021. New moths locally included Jersey Tiger, Oak Rustic and Kent Knot-horn. Southern Oak Bush-crickets were found at Ironworks Meadow and Hazeleigh Wood. Individuals of Purple Emperor butterfly and Lesser Emperor Dragonfly were recorded at Lofts Farm, both potential colonisers. Southern Migrant Hawker Dragonflies were seen again (along Southey Creek) but were not as widespread as in 2021.
On the mammal front, Lofts Farm’s great run continued with a male Polecat in June. Worryingly, the only reports of Water Vole I heard of during the year were in connection to the habitat management project on Northey Island- locally they do seem to be suffering.
Autumn bird migration was disappointing in terms of numbers but quality was sustained by three Maldon megas- American Wigeon, Wryneck and Yellow-browed Warbler. The continuing regular moth trapping at Hazeleigh Wood delivered a range of migrant moths, including Vestals on several dates and single records of Delicate, Scarce Bordered Straw, Small Mottled Willow and Vagrant China-Mark.
The second winter period was wet but mild. Again, no big influxes of birds from the continent. Numbers of diving ducks (Tufted Duck & Pochard) were low and there were no Scaup or Smew. There is no longer a regular flock of wintering Goldeneye on the river off the Prom- perhaps they have decamped elsewhere, such as to Abberton Reservoir, or, due to climate change, simply stay around mainland Europe. Raptors were disappointing again in 2022- no Short-eared Owls or Hen Harriers. The only ‘winter’ raptor species seen was Merlin- Tony Kennelly had sightings over the saltmarsh around Southey Creek and, on the last day of the year, one on his patch in fields south of Limebrook Way.
For many of us, the really uplifting part of 2022 was the number of local environmental initiatives that took place targeting biodiversity improvement. Those I am aware of are listed here (no particular order). I recognise that a number of local farmers are also taking positive steps, which is also really great news, however I have not the information to report on them here.
Chelmer Blackwater Reserve. The Chelmer Blackwater Reserve Community Interest Company, formed by a group of concerned locals the previous year, finally signed a lease in February 2022 to take over the land adjacent to Tesco’s car park (‘Ironworks Meadow’) to create a community nature reserve. Money was raised, and boardwalks are now undergoing construction to open up the space to the public. At the same time, Simon Wood has established a habitat management plan. Work parties have been busy clearing invasive scrub to extend the area of open meadow and creating micro-sites for invertebrates along the edge of the borrowdyke. We are all very excited about the launch of the site during the coming spring and being able to carry out more extensive surveys of the wildlife using the site. It is great that a Kingfisher has already adopted the cleared-out Kings Mere as a regular haunt for fishing.
More details are available on the project website https://chelmerblackwatercic.uk
Northey Island. The National Trust has been carrying out major works on managed realignment of the sea wall to ensure the long-term presence of saltmarsh habitat that has been at risk due to sea level rise. They have also been carrying out other actions such as creating a new pond for Water Voles and burying overhead cables to prevent Brent Geese colliding with them. More details on all this work are included in an earlier post on this blog.
Lofts Farm. Lofts Farm owner Edwina Hughes has been very active in developing management plans for the benefit of wildlife. She has been working with Operation Turtle Dove in seeding strips of land to encourage Turtle Doves to return and working to ensure field edges are kept uncultivated where possible for the benefit of birds and insect pollinators. Weekly bird surveys throughout 2022 recorded a total of 111 species over the year. Besides the sightings mentioned earlier in this piece, it was great during the first winter period to have regular sightings of Yellowhammers- birds that hopefully will increase in numbers as a result of the actions being taken. One of the other highlights was watching the Barn Owls that were breeding on the farm. Surveys by the Essex Field Club are gradually increasing the site species lists and identifying plants and invertebrates that might need special attention.
Hazeleigh Wood. Owners Maureen and John Bissell continue to work hard to encourage wildlife to prosper within their wood. The continuing presence of a large number of Nightingales, as well as White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies, is testament to their success in habitat management. The regular moth-trapping sessions during 2022 finally took the Hazeleigh lepidoptera count over the 800 species bar. Annual fungi surveys with Sarah Manning have so far accrued a species list of 199 though there is a feeling that there is plenty more to be found. Maureen has been supporting Forest School classes to introduce youngsters to the natural life of the wood. Whilst pond-dipping in the main pond, she was pleased to find some Great Crested Newts amongst the more regular finds. Maureen and Simon Wood are now looking at bringing a ‘ghost pond’ back to life to create further habitat for these newts and other creatures.
