News for July 2008

Spoonbills seen

Two spoonbills were seen near Cudmore Grove, West Mersea on June 2. Groups of spoonbills are often seen in eastern counties, especially Suffolk and Norfolk coastal nature reserves, and there are breeding colonies in Holland giving rise to speculation that this species may join the growing number of colonists from mainland Europe.

On May 27 a common crane had already been seen at RSPB Old Hall Marshes Reserve and also at East Mersea and West Mersea. Cranes have bred in the Norfolk Broads for several years and a pair or two have been present at RSPB Lakenheath Fen Reserve, Suffolk, for the past two years.

Problems for the small tortoiseshell butterfly?

There's continuing alarm over the crash in populations of the once—common small tortoiseshell butterfly. Naturalists are being asked to rear this species from egg stage to adult to avoid wild parasitism by wasps and flies. [see watching wildlife for more information] Photo: Joe Firmin

Otter road deaths at Nayland and Colchester

Early on the morning of Thursday 10th April a female otter was killed trying to cross the A134 where it crosses the River Stour at Nayland. This was a very sad loss as she had obviously been suckiling young cubs and despite a bank search by CNHS Mammal Recorder Darren Tansley and Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Nick Oliver in a canoe, the natal holt remained unlocated. (This is the hidden den where the cubs are raised for the first two months of their lives)

It is very doubtful these cubs will survive without their mother but if anyone does see undersized otters in obvious distress on the river can they please report it immediately to Darren Tansley (01621 862995 or email darrent@essexwt.org.uk).

Another otter was found in May on the southbound slip road to the A12 Colchester Bypass trying to cross from the River Colne to a pond near the Caravan site. This is a notorious accident blackspot for otters and we are trying to look into ways of preventing them crossing this fast and busy road.

Publications

The hardback publication from CNHS Chairman Ted Benton and Essex Field Club Recorder John Dobson - The Dragonflies of Essex (price £20) received a glowing review in the October 2007 issue of British Wildlife magazine.

Described by Peter Marren as "A model of its kind", this fully illustrated book is the most up to date field guide for our county's dragonflies and damselflies currently available. Again copies are available from bookshops and wildlife outlets or contact John Dobson 148 Main Road, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4DT (tel 01245 224408).

We recently reported that CNHS President Joe Firmin's book, Nature Boy in the Flower Fields (price £7.50 or £3.50 to CNHS members) was out providing a fascinating, fully illustrated glimpse into the people and wildlife on the Buntings seed trials farm of his childhood. This has been so popular it has now entered its third print run.

However hard on its heels is Joe's second book in the series, Butterfly Days in High Provence (price £10.50). Describing his butterfly adventures and colourful personalities of this mountainous region of southern France in the 1960s and 70s, the book is a must for butterfly enthusiasts everywhere. Not satisified with publishing his own books, Ted Benton provides a chapter with dozens of striking photographs of the different species commonly observed in the area. Malcolm Simpson also has a chapter describing what the area is like now.

If you would like a copy of either book please contact Joe Firmin, 55 Chapel Road, West Bergholt, CO6 3HZ or come along to one of our events where you can buy a copy. Joe is generously donating some of the proceeds from sales to the Society.

All these books are also available in the usual outlets including Red Lion Books and the Colchester Natural History Museum.

Water vole update

Water voles have been pushed to the very limits of survival in Essex by the relentless progress of mink through our watercourses. Mink are introduced predators from north america and although they are sometimes pushed out by otters, this is not always the case, and in areas like the Tendring Peninsula, where otters are not present, they are a threat to many species.

Recently, however, there has been some good news. Water voles were rediscovered during the 2006 survey of the River Stour by Nick Oliver for Suffolk Wildlife Trust. CNHS Mammal Recorder, Darren Tansley, along with Nick, Peter Ennis (Dedham Vale Project) and Sarah Earley (Essex University) checked on the Bures colony in November and found that it extended inland up the Cambridge Brook, away from the original site found in the meadow ditch. A joint Essex and Suffolk Wildlife Trust project is now underway to protect and expand this population.

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