New species recorded
Long-finned pilot whale
The long-finned pilot whale is a medium-sized species, reaching a length of around
six metres. The dorsal fin is distinctive, being sickle-shaped in females and flag-shaped
in males. In Britain, the pilot whale is the most frequently observed species of whale
and is most common in northern waters, including the northern North Sea. Evidence from
sightings and strandings suggested that the species increased in numbers during the
1970s and early 1980s but has suffered a recent decline. Sightings are reported during
all months of the year with a peak between September and January: this is perhaps associated
with the onshore movement of prey, which includes squid and a variety of fish.
During early October 1999, several anecdotal reports of a whale in the Thames estuary
culminated in a brief report in the Southend Evening Echo. On 9th October, two
birdwatchers observing seabirds from Shoebury East Beach reported the presence of two
pilot whales in the estuary. The following weekend, strong easterly winds drew more
birdwatchers to the area and an individual was seen from Southend Pier on 15th October.
Three days later, another singleton was observed swimming upstream from Canvey Point,
with the final sighting occurring at 0800 on 24th October, again from Canvey Point
(G Ekins, J Saward, B Tomlinson, pers. comm.).
Ref: Evans, PGH: Chapter 9, “Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: Order Cetacea”.
In Corbet, GB & Harris, S (eds): The Handbook of British Mammals (1991).
Published by Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Polecat
During 1982, the polecat was reintroduced to Hertfordshire from captive-bred specimens;
since then, it has thrived and spread to many parts of the county. More recently, polecats
were recorded close to the Essex border and, inevitably, this attractive predator has sought
to re-establish itself in Essex.
In early September 1999, a presumed polecat-ferret was found dead on a road near Wendens
Ambo in north-west Essex. The corpse was collected so that photographs could be taken and
Dr J Birks of the Vincent Weir Trust later confirmed that the specimen was a polecat - the
first county record for around 100 years. The key features revealed by the photos were the
absence of a throat patch (common in polecat-ferret hybrids) and the dark fur, particularly
on the underside.
In August 2002, a second road casualty was found near Thaxted and was offered to the Chelmsford
and Essex Museum. Hopefully the polecat, which feeds mainly on rats and rabbits, will
regain its former status as a part of the Essex countryside.