Abington Naturewatch: October 2016

Friday, 21 October 2016

Tree Sparrows in Cambridge Road (and Buzzard)

Derek saw 3 Tree Sparrows on 21 October - here is a picture of one of them.

He also saw a Buzzard in a dead tree at the bottom of garden on 20 October - shown with a Magpie for scale!

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Observe bio-security - clean boots and equipment if you visit other rivers!

Back in July, we were advised of am outbreak of crayfish plague in Norfolk.

The Fish Health Inspectorate at CEFAS advised that the dead white-clawed crayfish found at Sculthorpe Mill on the River Wensum recently were due to crayfish plague.

This makes it a good time to remind people of the Check-Clean-Dry guidance that is now more important than ever to protect remaining native populations in the upper Wensum, Tat and other Norfolk rivers.

This is equally, if not more, important if you visit these rivers and return here (or elsewhere).

Getting into a good practice routine of biosecurity when using watercourses for leisure or work is so important,

World Rivers Day - celebrated at Abington Woods on 24 September

Deborah set up some displays and activities, aimed mostly at her young customers, at Abington Woods. There are some photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskEaCter.

Monday, 3 October 2016

Wasps around!

Steve Roughley took this picture of holes on the footpath to the A11 footbridge, a couple of weeks ago. He thinks they are the holes of digger wasps, some of which still seem to be active. He has seen the odd wasp entering or leaving over the summer but not caught one on camera.

There is also a hole on the river bank near the Millennium footbridge, which was in use by wasps today (3 October).

Mushrooms around!

George saw these in Granta Park at the weekend - 1-2 October.

I've also seen them around in other places nearby.

Saturday, 1 October 2016

Moths in Church Lane

Last night David set up his moth trap next door to Little Abington church, so this morning (1st October) we opened it up to see our visitors.

There was a reasonable selection of mostly 'little brown' moths and one or two other insects!

Thanks for Mike and Lois Bull for the tentative identifications below - all Noctuids, the largest family of moths:

Smoky Wainscot

Barred Chestnut

Bordered Gothic

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Barred Chestnut

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Barred Chestnut

Neglected Rustic

Thanks to Graham, our host:

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)