Saturday 14 November 2020

Early morning along the Roman Road

Early one morning this week, Andy M walked along the eastern end of the Roman Road in Abington, near the Hildersham boundary, just as the sun was rising.  The low sunlight was beautiful, illuminating the animals and birds as they started their day.  Besides the more usual creatures - Hare, Linnet, Partridge, Corn Bunting, Skylark, Yellowhammer - Andy also saw a pair of Stonechat.  Breeding further north on moorland during the summer, Stonechat migrate south to spend the winter in the southern areas of Britain.

Abington parish and Hildersham Wood just before dawn

Just before sunrise!

Mist amongst the trees of the valley fields

First light - on the ears of a Hare!

Hare - exit left!

The Roman Road looking west, with a covey of Red-legged Partridge in the field

More Hare - basking in the sun

Corn Bunting

A flock of Great Black-backed Gull, rising up from the potato field 
to let the harvesting machine pass by, before settling back down there again.

Female Stonechat
Male Stonechat

Meadow Pipit
Meadow Pipit

A backlit male Yellowhammer


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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)