River Sampling, Thursday 18th June

With the kind permission of Granta Park, we conducted our first foray from their premises on the Left Bank (south) of the River Granta.

The first sampling, in the Sluice Wood area on good-looking gravel but under shade, having produced almost nothing, we did much better working from the side by culverts in open sites near the new buildings and then in front of the Hall. Populations were generally modest but diversity rather good.



A Three-Spined Stickleback appeared to be a female in spawn. Demoiselle or Damselfly nymphs were plentiful, a few of good-size having over-wintered, many smaller ones recently hatched. We saw no Caddisfly larvae. Of the crustaceans, we found Freshwater Shrimps in good numbers, and one Water Hoglouse; of the molluscs live Pond Snails and one live Ramshorn, but no bivalves; of the worms, a few Leeches and one Sludge Worm (Tubifex).



A general shortage of water plants was compensated by a Water Speedwell and a Water Figwort, both fine specimens, neither species often in our records.

On show in Bourn Bridge Road

Knapweed Broomrape - Photo by Sally Turnidge

Moth Study - 30th May

The traps were set up overnight - there were some spectacular specimens but not in large quantities.

Photos by David Farrant: the large moth is an Eyed Hawkmoth; the others are a White Ermine and (darker) a Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Visit to RSPB Lakenheath - 21 May 2009

We gathered at the visitor centre at 10:00 am for a guided walk.The fenland site has been restored to reed beds, with some poplar plantations remaining. We saw birds like Marsh and Sedge Warblers, Marsh Harriers, Hobbies - too fast to photograph - and a variety of insects. We also heard the Bitterns booming...

Grass Snake in Great Abington

3 foot (1 metre) grass snake seen in a garden pond on Saturday 2 May 2009. Pictures taken by Jenny Nobes.

River Sampling - 25th April 2009

The second expedition tool place today, after the monthly litter pick-up. We sampled at the ford and the Millennium Bridge. We saw trout and caught minnows, with usual mayfly nymphs, shrimp and leeches. Near the bridge we saw bees swarming on the hedge by the cricket ground.

River Sampling - 11th April 2009

The first sampling session of the year was in 'Hood's Reach' - between the two Abington churches and Abington Hall - by kind permission of the land-owner. This section of the river is quite deep and somewhat inaccessible when the bullrushes and nettles are fully grown. However, at this time of year, it proved fairly easy to sample from the bank.

We saw shoals of minnows and managed to catch one fish. We also found a variety of mayfly and damsel fly nymphs, with the usual shrimp and hog-louse. There were a lot of caddis fly larvae and a large ramshorn snail.

On a fence post by the river side, we saw a banded snail.

Next session: 25th April (after the regular inspection and litter-pick) - meet at the ford at 10:30.