September 2009

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Local moth recorders, members of CNHS and Essex Moth Group, have been rewarded with two notable rare species which have turned up at their mercury vapour lamps or traps.

The first was a specimen of the sorcerer, a vagrant from the Mediterranean and North Africa which arrived at the garden trap of David Scott at Ford Farm Brightlingsea on the night of August 12 and was only the second UK record so far, the other on the Isle of Wight in 2006. Then on the night of August 29 came another mega-rarity, a Cliffden Nonpareil (blue underwing) recorded by Geoff Swayne of Clacton, an member of Essex Moth Group during an survey at Hockley Wood, Thorrington with other EMG colleagues. This was the first Essex record of this large moth with beautiful blue hindwings since 1976 when one came to an MV light at Bradwell-on-Sea. This is also considered a rare vagrant though in the past there have been resident colonies in SE England in woods where the larvae feed on aspen.

The very rare immigrant (vagrant) the sorcerer Aedia leucomelas which arrived at David Scott's garden moth trap on August 12. Only the second UK record.

Photo: David Barnard

Regional dragonfly enthusiasts have also had cause to celebrate the arrival from Europe and colonisation in Suffolk by the Willow Emerald Damselfly Lestes viridis. It is a metallic green and, as its name indicates, is often seen foraging on willows and alder trees near flowing or standing water. Females lay eggs into twigs and branches overhanging water. There has been a big influx of this beauty into Eastern England with presence in several Suffolk localities and the search is on in Essex to confirm its presence.

[STOP PRESS 06/09/09 - CNHS member, Roy Cornhill, has just found and photographed the willow emerald at Essex Wildlife Trust's Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve]

September is a month of much ornithological comings and goings. Birds which have bred with us in spring and summer are making their way south and some which spend the winter here from northern and central Europe are starting to arrive along the east coast. Wading birds are prominent in these movements. Whimbrel, which have nested on northern moors and heaths, are passing along the Essex Coast. Greenshanks and spotted redshanks are also on the move south. Look for these waders along the estuaries of Rivers Colne, Stour and Blackwater and also at Fingringhoe Wick; Cudmore Grove Country Park, East Mersea; Old Hall Marshes, Tollesbury and Tollesbury Wick.

My favourite ‘hotspot’ for autumn passage birds is Walton Naze where trees, bushes and bramble tangles are often full of warblers and flycatchers with occasional rarities such as red-backed shrike, wryneck or bluethroat.

Lesser whitethroat are often common in the the Walton Naze thickets on autumn migration while other passage rarities such as the wryneck and red-backed shrike may also be seen.

The brambles are especially attractive to lesser whitethroats as these slim warblers feed on ripe blackberries as well as the many insects attracted to the fruit. Also usual in September are pied flycatchers moving east and south from nesting areas in Wales and the South West. The Naze’s ripe blackberries are irresistible for comma and red admiral butterflies.

Hobbies, dashing little falcons which spend the summer with us nesting on old crow nests, are speeding over reedbeds catching and eating dragonflies and even some martins captured in swift flight. They are preparing for their long migratory flights to Africa for the winter. Look for them in marshy or reedy areas where their prey abounds. I usually see several at RSPB’s Old Hall Marshes reserve at Tollesbury and also at Abberton Reservoir and Tollesbury Wick.

Although it has generally been a good year for butterflies one usually frequent species, the red admiral, hasn’t been as common as usual in most areas. They are especially fond of feeding on the flowers of ivy as well as garden michaelmas daisies. Though they used to be classed as a species reinforced by immigration there is evidence that many ar4e hibernating here as a result of milder winters.

Finally I saw a female clouded yellow butterfly at the Fordham Hall estate on August 29 and another was seen at Cudmore Grove Country Park, East Mersea, earlier in the month. It hasn’t been a good summer for this colourful immigrant from Southern Europe although there has been an abundance of painted lady butterflies following a huge immigration in May. Near the Fordham clouded yellow was a wasp spider, the first record for this site though it is now widespread in NE Essex. It is a continental species colonising Britain.

News Update

Philip Smith and Hugh Owen spotted a wryneck at Holland Haven Country Park on September 17.

The Cliffden Nonpareil (blue underwing), an Essex vagrant rarity found at Thorrington on August 29.

Although 2009 has been generally good for butterflies the red admiral has been unusually scarce.

Large numbers of wading birds such as the whimbrel pass along the Essex coast and estuarine marches flying south from northern nesting moors.

The willow emerald which had recently colonised Suffolk has now been found and in Essex at Fingrighoe Wick Nature Reserve.

Photo: Roy Cornhill.

Look for hobbies in marshy, reedy areas as they feed on dragonflies before flying south to Africa for the winter.

Pied flycatchers pass along the Essex coast in September heading south for winter quarters.

A female clouded yellow butterfly was seen at Fordham Hall on August 29.

The wasp spider also seen at Fordham Hall and spreading through NE Essex has colonised from the continent.

Photo: David Barnard.

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