Globally, this summer was the hottest since records began in 1880, with July the hottest ever month. Particular worries were being raised regarding rises in sea temperatures.
Around Maldon, however, the weather was back to being more ‘typical’ compared to last year’s drought. In July 2023, the peak Essex temperature was 29 degrees with an average of 17 and there were periods of significant rain, compared to the peak of 39 degrees in 2022, an average of 20 degrees and no rain at all.
The extremes for last year clearly had knock on effects to the wildlife to be found this year. There were certainly impacts to butterflies. Numbers of many species were low, in particular, Common Blue were extremely scarce. On the other hand, there was an abundance of Meadow Brown. Differences are quite likely related to when the caterpillars needed to feed. First brood Common Blue have caterpillars that feed during June/ July that will have been affected by last year’s drought. Meadow Brown caterpillars appear later in the year and so by the time they needed to feed, the grasses they require would have been recovering.
Brown Argus had another good year and were much more obvious than Common Blue. The recent increase in Brown Argus is thought to be due to it expanding the range of plants that it lays eggs on. One of these new plants is Cut-leafed Cranesbill, a common wild plant around Maldon, often appearing in gardens.
On the subject of gardens, there was again a national push for ‘no-mow May’ and it was good to see that increasing numbers of people are allowing grass and wild flowers to grow in their gardens. In my own garden I recorded over forty different plant species on and around my ‘lawn’, the most prominent being Cat’s-ear that bloomed through-out. The longer grass also resulted in good numbers of grass moths.
While the commoner breeding birds seemed to generally have a reasonable time this summer, it was a disappointing season for many of the scarcer species. Again, no Willow Warblers were found holding territories and the only local Turtle Dove recorded was seen briefly at Lofts Farm. No House Martin nests were reported but the presence of House Martins around Elizabeth Way in Heybridge suggest they may still be breeding in the area. I am planning to organise a more concerted survey for them in 2024 but fear the worst.
In contrast, Swifts seem to be holding their numbers- a good place to watch them is around St Peter’s Hospital. With many traditional Swift breeding sites under threat through building refurbishments, artificial nest boxes can be a real help. This summer, Cindy Lawes and John Sutherby have again had success with Swifts fledging from their home-made nest box at their home not too far from the High Street.
Amongst other species, results were mixed. Nightingales had another good year. Garden Warblers were only recorded at their regular site along the canal by Langford. Bearded Tits and Cattle Egret are both assumed to have bred again. The Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull colony on the industrial rooves in Heybridge continue to do well (Adrian Dally estimated 85 nests of the former and 105 of the latter in July, with no sign of bird flu). Red Kite bred very close (at Cock Clarks) but the relative lack of sightings implied that Hobbies didn’t. It was good to note that both Reed Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler have already moved into the vegetation bordering the main drainage channel at the new Handley Green development alongside Limebrook Way.
We are still waiting for Mediterranean Gull to breed at Heybridge Pits (several adults were present in the spring) and no sign yet of Ravens hanging around.
By far the biggest and upsetting news though was the arrival of bird flu at the Black-headed Gull colony at Heybridge Pits. Several dozen or so of the gulls died but then, sensing something was wrong, the remaining adults mostly abandoned the colony, which probably prevented a complete wipe-out. Hopefully the virus will abate and the gulls will be able to breed successfully again next year. More info at https://wildlifeofmaldon.blogspot.com/2023/07/avian-flu-decimates-gull-colony-at.html.
The local Otters have been becoming more conspicuous with reports of daylight sightings from Chigborough Lakes and Heybridge Pits. The most exciting bird records were of a sub-adult Montagu’s Harrier seen over fields near Mundon Hall Farm on 18th June (presumably one of the two that were touring the Dengie Peninsular at the time) and a Nightjar, seen at Langford on 21st July. Passage passerine migrants were scarce, with, aside from hirundines, just single Wheatears at the start and end of summer and the odd record of Willow Warbler and Whinchat. Waders too were disappointing, with just one Ruff and one Curlew Sandpiper so far reported, though a count of 9 Common Sandpiper along the River Chelmer around the August Bank Holiday was a good count.
The most obvious plant of the summer has been ‘Poison’ Hemlock. They seem to have been everywhere but particularly along hedgerows by the sides of roads. Harmless when left alone, there were nevertheless numerous scare mongering articles in the national press and public perception of the dangers have no doubt been fuelled by the plant’s appearance as the instrument of death in episodes of Midsummer Murders!
Other summer appearances included welcome sightings of Common Spotted Orchids at Lofts Farm and Maldon Wick and, as last year, there were a lot of Moon Jellyfish in the estuary, with many being seen off the Prom. Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly has now spread to the Delph Ditch in the Prom Park.
I quite often see people crabbing at the boating lake in the Prom Park and wonder if they ever catch anything, so it was good to talk to a family who were enjoying some success. A less welcome inhabitant of the park was reported on Facebook- a Red-eared Terrapin in the Marine Lake. Hopefully the copious amounts of bread around will distract it from hoovering up the amphibians and different invertebrates that normally form the bulk of its diet.
The current rate of change of our wildlife, particularly of invertebrates, continues to amaze. Most noticeable have been the new arrivals. Throughout 2023, Simon Wood and Maureen Bissell continued to run moth traps regularly at Hazeleigh Wood. Their regular surveys over recent years have provided a good measure of some of the changes that are occurring.
Increasing records suggest we now have local breeding populations of the once near mythically scarce Clifden Nonpareil (also now known as the Blue Underwing, a somewhat mundane name for such a great moth) as well as the Delicate (formerly just a scarce migrant). Clancy’s Rustic has only been in the country since 2002 but is now a common local moth.
Other good moths at Hazeleigh were Mocha and Brussels Lace, the patterning on the first Mocha was particularly attractive.
All the above moth species can be presumed to be natural occurrences. Other species are arriving through man’s intervention. The first UK record of Raspberry Clearwing in 2007 was assumed to have been imported with deliveries of soft fruit plants but it is now firmly established. Simon caught several using a pheromone lure in his back garden.
Records of Oak Processionaries have continued to increase though no obvious signs of damage have been seen locally. Nevertheless, DEFRA is surveying for them and destroying nests of caterpillars where they are found (a survey of a sample of trees at Hazeleigh Wood fortunately found no nests). The Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner has been around for some time now. Whilst it’s caterpillars are visibly affecting many of our conker trees, fortunately their effect does not seem to be sufficient to cause terminal harm.
Of course it is not just moth numbers that are changing. A Great Green Bush-cricket heard at Hazeleigh was a first site record and there was another sighting of Large Garden Bumble-bee at Heybridge Pits. These records represent local distribution changes of naturally occurring UK species but more and more species are arriving through man’s (unintentional) intervention, from harvestmen to fruit flies.
(first UK record 1999)
(first UK record 2012)
Of course it is much easier to spot ‘new’ species than to notice when other species are lost from our area. A number of formerly common moths seem to be disappearing, including White Ermine and Buff Arches. There have been no records of Garden Tiger reported for many years now.
And there is the worry that new species arrive at a different rate to the natural predators, meaning that the food chain gets out of kilter. Fortunately 2023 did not see any records of the bee-killing Asian Hornet but their near-term arrival is anticipated.
To end on a positive note, despite summer 2023 proving to be relatively poor for wildlife sightings, there was excellent progress made at a number of our local wildlife sites. No doubt there is some correlation due to regular observers reducing their general birding efforts to lend some support to these ventures!
The key actions are probably best reviewed site by site:
Chelmer Blackwater Community Nature Reserve (Ironworks Meadow)
The new reserve along the river next to Tesco, leased and managed by the Chelmer and Blackwater Community Interest Company formed by interested local residents, was officially opened on 24th June. All the new boardwalks, footbridge and other paths are now in place and regular work parties and are busy carrying out habitat improvements. Generous help has been provided with nest boxes and some Alder whips and we were privileged to be entrusted with several specimens of the rare Marsh Sow-thistle, as part of Paul Fletcher’s initiative to reintroduce it to parts of Essex where it formally occurred but since became extinct.
On 9th July a Bioblitz was held, combining surveys by established experts with an opportunity for members of the public visit to explore the site themselves and to see some of the more interesting species discovered by the experts. In total, close to 400 species of flora and fauna were recorded, including an exceptional 200 species of moths including the Chalk-hill Bell Pelochrista caecimaculana, last recorded in Essex in 1984. Amongst the more impressive creatures that visitors were able to look at were Pine Hawkmoth, White Satin and Jersey Tiger moths, as well as a Wasp Spider and a Bishop’s Mitre Bug. Other good species recorded included Large Velvet Ant and Bee Wolf (a bee-hunting wasp). A pond-dipping instigated by John Rogers was also an eye-opener, with the mere proving to be home to shrimps, sticklebacks, water boatmen and an Emperor Dragonfly larva. Many thanks to Claire Williamson and Maldon District Council for helping with provision of nets and other equipment.
Lofts Farm
Edwina Hughes, principal landowner at Lofts Farm off Broad Street Green Road, has been busy carrying out a wide range of habitat improvement actions. These have included hedge management, sowing of wildflower strips and the planting of a copse of native trees. Her engagement with the Operation Turtle Dove team was rewarded by the sight of a Turtle Dove feeding on the seed-mix she had been putting down- hopefully a sign of things to come. Again the farm was graced with a pair of breeding Barn Owls.
Continuing regular survey work by Malcom Corbett, Graham Barker and Simon Wood have now lifted the site bird list to over 160 species, the most recent addition being a flyover Raven seen by Malcolm on the 29th September.
Northey Island
Major works are ongoing by the National Trust to carry out sea wall realignments to help manage saltmarsh habitat for the future. Work has also included such actions as creating a new scrape, a pond for Water Voles and burying an overhead power line to prevent bird strikes by wintering geese. A bird hide has been erected but access arrangements are still being sorted out.
Most recently, planning permission has been granted for three redundant barges to be placed and infilled with sediment to create new habitat for nesting birds and shelter existing saltmarsh against wave-induced erosion.
Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to Simon Wood for some expert help and for supplying many of the photographs in this review!
Thanks also to Cindy Lawes for the Swift photo and to Daniel Blyton for use of his Chalk-hill Bell photo (he was the one that found it!).