Saturday 17 July 2021

Mostly flowers and butterflies along the ORC

One sunny early morning this week, Andy M walked the Old Railway Cutting, and was rewarded with a fine display of many species of butterflies and flowers.

Ringlet male - upper wings have small dark dots with faint paler rings
(more prominent on the underside)

Large Skipper - note the mottling towards the wing edges

Large Skipper

Essex Skipper - note the short straight 'sex brand' and black antennae tips

Essex Skipper

Small Skipper male - note longer and slightly curved 'sex brand', and orange antennae tip

Small Skipper - female. Note orange antennae tips (just visible in photo)

female Skipper (likely Small Skipper)

Marbled White

Meadow Brown female

Comma - note the small white 'comma' on lower underside wing

Comma

Green-veined White - with darker 'shading' along wing veins 

Small White

Field Poppy and Ox-eye Daisy along the field edge

Wild Marjoram

Hemlock - starting to go over

Field Scabious

White Campion

Fabulous show of Mullein ...

... which are a huge hit with the Hoverflies

Hoverflies on Mullein

Field Poppy

Wild Parsnip

Mating Craneflies on Wild Parsnip

Hoverfly on Wild Parsnip

Hoverfly homing in on Red Dead-nettle flowers

Red Dead-nettle

Lady's Bedstraw

Hedge Bedstraw

Wild Marjoram

Hoverfly on Wild Marjoram

Field Poppy and Ox-eye Daisy

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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)