Thursday, 7 July 2022

ANW Lackford Lakes trip

2nd July 2022 - Nine ANW members joined our interesting and informative trip to Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve in Suffolk. The reserve mainly comprises a number of old flooded gravel workings, but apart from the obvious lakes, has a rich variety of habitats including reedbed, boggy scrub, meadow, woodland, which attract an equally good variety of wildlife.

From the many good hides and paths we saw a total of 40 bird species, several with young, 9 butterfly species and 6 species of dragonfly and damselfly, as well as a few interesting mammals and flowers.


Watching Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and Bank Vole, amongst others by 'the log' [photo David F]

Nuthatch [photo Esme L]

Marsh Tit [photo Andy M]

Great Tit [photo Esme L]

Bank Vole [photo Andy M]

Pheasant [photo Andy M]

Adult male Common Blue Damselfly [photo Esme L]

Immature male Blue-tailed Damselfly 
- the green colour on thorax turns to blue as the male matures into an adult [photo Esme L]

Adult male Banded Demoiselle [photo Andy M]

Male Four-spotted Chaser [photo Esme L]

Male Four-spotted Chaser [photo Andy M]

Male Four-spotted Chaser [photo Andy M]

Male Black-tailed Skimmer [photo Andy M]

Little Grebe with young [photo Andy M]

Little Grebe feeding young [photo Andy M]

Female Mallard with young [photo Andy M]

Speckled Wood [photo Esme L]

Comma [photo Andy M]

Gatekeeper - the pale patterning and uneven row of small white dots
 on the hind underwing are diagnostic [photo Andy M]

Female Meadow Brown 
- showing much less orange than the Gatekeeper [photo Andy M]

Large Skipper [photo Andy M]

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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)