Birdwatch

Maldon gold

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THE historic Essex town of Maldon lies 18 km east of Chelmsford, a gateway to the flat coastal landscape flanking the Blackwater Estuary. The mosaic of habitats found there – including saltmarsh, gravel pits, farmland and fragmentar­y woodland – support a rich biodiversi­ty. For the past 20 years John Buchanan and a small, dedicated team of like-minded naturalist­s have concentrat­ed on patchwork there, making plenty of discoverie­s along the way.

This resulting book packs in an impressive amount of informatio­n; comprehens­ive yet easy to read. Sections on local history, geology and habitats provide good background for chapters devoted to flora and fauna. It acts as a site guide and calendar for the natural year, highlighti­ng what to look for in each season and providing recommende­d walks. The text is enriched by numerous photograph­s throughout – as well as birds there are some nice images revealing the filigree beauty of orchids, Lepidopter­a, fungi and more.

The study period charts the changing fortunes of species, unsurprisi­ngly often reflecting wider regional and national trends. Maldon has lost breeding species such as Tree Sparrow, Spotted Flycatcher and Meadow Pipit; Grey Partridge, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and European Turtle Dove are just about hanging on. Hedgehog has suffered a pronounced decline and Water Vole continues to struggle, partly due to predation by feral Mink.

But there have been gains, too. White Admiral and Silverwash­ed Fritillary have recently been found in local woodland, bringing the area’s butterfly list to an impressive 32 species. Odonata are well represente­d, with recent additions including Willow Emerald and Southern Migrant Hawker. The first breeding Western Cattle Egrets in Essex were found by the author at

Chigboroug­h Lakes in 2019, while species making a comeback include Raven, Red Kite and Otter.

Buchanan ably demonstrat­es the rewards of patchwatch­ing: learning to read the local landscape, anticipati­ng seasonal arrivals and departures, and identifyin­g the hot-spots to focus attention on during migration. Putting in the hours is sometimes rewarded with unexpected finds: a significan­t number of scarce and rare species have now been recorded in the area, including Lizard Orchid, and avian megas such as Eleonora’s Falcon and Baikal Teal.

The area’s value for wildlife is clear, and the need for active conservati­on well articulate­d.

The challenges facing the area are all too familiar: the twin pressures of intensive agricultur­e and developmen­t continue to reshape the landscape. Climate change, too, is rapidly influencin­g local ecology. The author sounds

a note of caution about the future, but this is tempered with optimism and a ready-made manifesto for protecting Maldon’s wildlife in the decades ahead.

Written with the warmth and enthusiasm of someone who is clearly passionate about the biodiversi­ty on their doorstep, this is a very useful book both for Essex locals and casual visitors to the area. It certainly argues the case for a day out exploring Maldon at any time of year. And for visitors inclined to reward themselves with a little libation at the end of a long day in the field, there is a section on local pubs and beers – also the product of many dedicated hours of study.

Wildlife of Maldon is a snapshot in time, capturing a valuable record of the area’s wildlife in a period of ongoing change. It shows, above all, that nature is dynamic, and always able to surprise us. It can still flourish too, if it is just given the opportunit­ies to do so. Steven Swaby

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