Abington Naturewatch: July 2016

Thursday, 28 July 2016

Red Admiral 'posing' on High Street garage

Jennifer saw this Red Admiral 'posing' on her garage wall on July 22 and reckons it looks
'newly painted!'

Monday, 25 July 2016

Lesser Stag Beetle in Cambridge Road

Derek took this photo of a Lesser Stag Beetle in their garden on 23 July. It was ca 25mm long.

Derek checked the identification with Stuart Elsom after discussing Stag Beetles, and their presence in Cambridgeshire, on the recent visit to Paxton Pits. Stuart has asked to be told about any Stag Beetles we hear of locally, so please let Jennifer know!

Thursday, 21 July 2016

News from the river

On Monday 18th July, Jennifer reported seeing hundreds of little fish in the shallow water near the shoal. They are likely to have been minnows.

On Tuesday, Derek saw a few small fish - but not in a big group as he saw and photographed last year. He took 3 pictures, but not of the fish - 2 of (green) female Banded Demoiselles and 1 (blue) male. The females are not easy to see at basic view but appear as the image is enlarged,

And on Wednesday, Jennifer took another photo of a banded demoiselle near the footbridge:

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Marbled white butterfly on the Roman Road.

Jennifer saw this Marbled White butterfly on the morning of 4th July on the Roman Road.

These are very uncommon in our area. Last reported sightings were one in 2014 and two in 2011, all on the Roman Road in our parish.

June was a very poor month for butterflies this year. But now the sun is shining and the buddleia is coming into flower, look out for small tortoiseshells. Very few Meadow browns, Ringlets and Gatekeepers have been reported - let's hope they will appear in July.

The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)