2013 Essex Wildlife Trust Avocet Egg Watch
HELP US BEAT THE THIEVES

Avocets breed at fewer than 20 sites in Essex and Two Tree Island is one of the most important. These beautiful birds are targeted by egg thieves. For the last seven years Essex Wildlife Trust has worked with local people to protect the Avocet eggs from thieves, by monitoring the island, around-the-clock.

So, now we need your help, more than ever – please volunteer to keep these magical birds on an upward curve.

This year Avocet Watch will run from 8 April to 16 June. If you would like to join our team to monitor the site, please contact: Louise Morris, Essex Wildlife Trust: 01702 215602, The Avocets need you, it’s as clear as black and white!

RSPB Volunteer Work Parties

Interested in Conservation Volunteering?

Volunteers are wanted for for a work parties at RSPB South Essex Marshes 10am - 4pm on every Wednesday, sites include Vange Marshes and West Canvey Marsh. Volunteer on South Essex Marshes suite of reserves including areas not normally accessible to visitors. For more information Call 01268 559158.

Come along and make a difference!

An Easy Way to Help Local Wildlife

The RSPB is urging people living in south Essex to lend a hand to help wildlife.

The Society – the largest wildlife conservation charity in Europe – is asking people to help the RSPB's community fundraising scheme.

Graham Larter, community fundraising officer, said: “We’re looking for businesses to place boxes of our very collectable pin badges on their counters. We also need volunteers to look after the boxes to make sure money raised from pin badges is banked and that there are always plenty of badges available.”

“We particularly need volunteers to help us in areas such as Southend, Basildon and Canvey Island” he added.

Last year, the RSPB raised a massive £600,000 from the community fund-raising scheme, money that is used to help the organisation deliver its vital work for birds and other wildlife, such as its nature reserves at Vange Marshes and West Canvey Marsh.

For more information about the scheme, contact Graham on 01603 660066 or 07771 923673 () or visit the RSPB’s website on www.rspb.org.uk.

Ends

For further information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Graham Larter 01603 660066 or 07771 923673
News release prepared by Chris Durdin, RSPB public affairs 01603 660066.

Reptile and Amphibian Records

If anyone sees any reptiles or amphibians anywhere in Essex could they please send the record of species, numbers & location (grid ref. if possible), to our County Recorder, John Wright at . First frog/toad spawn dates would also be appreciated.

Colour Ringed Mediterranean Gulls

Thank you very much for your Mediterranean Gull sightings. I would mostly appreciate if you could perform more sightings in the future. Is a regular follow-up by you possible in your area? Even observations of the same bird are very valuable for us. It would be interesting, especially in the next weeks, to obtain the very last sightings from the Med Gulls from Southend Pier before they leave your area.

If you observe black-ringed Med Gulls (= from Ukraine, Greece or Turkey), you can send your sightings to me; I will send you the complete life history.

Very many thanks for your collaboration! I hope to receive soon news from you.

Renaud FLAMANT
23, rue de l'Orme
B-1040 Brussels

Have You Seen a Porpoise, Dolphin or Whale off the Essex Coast or in the Thames estuary?

I am writing to ask for help in surveying Porpoises, Dolphins and Whales (cetaceans). Essex Wildlife Trust maintains a database of cetacean sightings. This information is shared by the conservation community and is important in helping to understand the population and distribution of these animals in the southern North Sea.

We are trying to reach people who spend time at sea or in coastal locations and who may see live or stranded cetaceans.

We have a new version of our survey card which now provides additional information. The previous version has been in use for several years and we have found them to be a simple and effective way for people to report sightings. We receive a steady stream of returned cards through the year.

If you would like copies of our survey cards, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you very much for your help.

Mark Iley
Biodiversity Project Officer
Essex Wildlife Trust

Direct 01621 862975
Mobile 07880 702794